Bath budget to increase taxes 2.8
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

BATH - Village trustees last week approved a 2008-09 budget that will increase village property tax rates by 2.8 percent, from $19 per $1,000 of assessed value to $19.59 per $1,000.

A public hearing on the budget plan drew one visitor Monday. Trustees approved the budget following the hearing.

Tax bills will be mailed to village residents on June 1, according to the village clerk's office. On-time payments may be made through July without penalty.

Total appropriations in the new budget amount to $3.9 million, up from $3.4 million for the current fiscal year.

The budget document shows sharp increases in health insurance costs for village employees, plus significant increases in the cost of blacktop and fuel for the village street department. Contractural employee salaries are to increase by 4 percent.

Health insurance for village police officers, for example, is to rise by more than $50,000, from $179,000 to $230,000. Salary expenses for police and street personnel will rise by $48,000.

No salary increases have been budgeted for village trustees or the mayor.

Wallace noted village trustees eliminated or cut several items in the budget in order to restrain the tax increase. A popular senior citizens recreation program, for example, that has been in existence since the 1970s was eliminated to save $28,000 in expenses. The program leased buses for senior citizens excursions through the year.