Proposed Nyack Budget Carries .96 Percent Tax Increase; No Employee Raises, Layoffs

Nyack's preliminary budget for 2012-13 includes a tax increase of .96 percent and aims to raise $3,225,411.96 through property taxes.

Total estimated expenditures come in at $5,282,597, 2.31 percent more than last year.

The draft—put together by village administrator Jim Politi and village treasurer John Malesardi—will be reviewed by village lawmakers for the first time at Thursday's board of trustees meeting.

Neither village employees nor elected officials will see boosts to their salaries or stipends, although some by-the-hour employees have been given more hours. No layoffs are proposed, either.

"It's a bare bones budget," Politi said.

Jen Laird-White, Nyack's mayor, said the village kept in mind when crafting the budget, but also sought to keep spending minimal as a matter of course.

"It was both," she said. "We felt obliged to respect the governor's tax cap if possible, but also wanted to be comparable to last year's budget if we could do it."

Last year, that also saw a .96 percent tax increase.

The fiscal plan proposes minor increases in the street maintenance and sanitation sectors, and includes a 2.20 percent uptick to employee benefits, which include social security, Medicare and workers' compensation.

The individual judicial and traffic control budgets are set to remain the same.

Cuts may be made to the culture and recreation budget, with about $40,000 less allocated to the village's summer camp held at . Earlier this year, the state released an audit that ; Laird-White said this plays a role in the funding decrease.

"It's acknowledging that fact that we have paid for non-local children in the past," she said. The village is to host the camp this year.

The budget also spotlights a 4.32 percent uptick in parking enforcement revenue, up to $725,000 from last year's $695,000.

"It's just the way it's been going," Laird-White said, noting no new practices have been put into effect.

Laird-White also noted village lawmakers may take issue with a $15,000 expense that is in the current budget; the money has been allocated to refurbish the entryway to , but Laird-White said it could be better spent on a recreational consultant to aid in the .

Other factors—like the and likely —could have an effect on the budget, as well.