Proposal may include village tax increase
Bath budget:
BY MARY PERHAM GATEHOUSE MEDIA

BATH - Village of Bath property owners can expect a 3 percent increase in taxes if the preliminary 2008-09 budget of $3.9 million is approved later this month.

Village trustees hammered out the final details of the budget Thursday night, March 13, which calls for a $200,000 increase in spending compared to this year's $3.7 million budget.

The budget includes a tax levy of roughly $1,282,000, which will increase the tax rate by an estimated 50 cents per $1,000 of full assessed value, from $19 to $19.50.

Bath Mayor David Wallace said increases were largely due to gasoline, diesel and blacktop costs, and a 19 percent spike in health insurance costs. Retirement contributions will drop only slightly next year, due to the retirement of two employees.

The board also agreed to hire a full-time custodian on a provisional basis. Money budgeted for the current part-time cleaner's salary and building repairs will be used for the position.

Salary increases average 4 percent next year, with the police department entering the final year of a five-year contract.

Proposed cuts to the budget include $52,000 from the village's current $331,000 contract for services from the Bath Volunteer Fire Department.

Trustees also trimmed expenses next year by agreeing to pay for street department trucks, a police vehicle and other equipment through a fiveyear, $200,000 bond.

Wallace said the village will pay off $92,000 of debt this year, leaving "more than enough " funds to pay off the bond.

Trustees will take another look at the budget when they meet for their regular session at 6 p.m. Monday, March 17. A public hearing on the budget will take place at 6 p.m. March 27 in the Village Hall on Liberty Street, followed by a vote on adoption of the budget the same night.