Proposed Budget Adds Two New Crossing Guards in Rye

The City of Rye will have two new crossing guards in 2013, if the city council approves the current budget proposal for next year. The city council approved adjustments to the oproposed in November, which adds $65,000 of revenue to next year’s budget. That will help pay for the crossing guards and provide an additional $30,000 to the Rye Free Reading room.

The new budget proposal would increase taxes for the average Rye homeowner by about $86, down from the original proposed increase of $97.

The changes moved $50,000 from some departments to others and added $40,000 in building permit revenue and $25,000 in sales tax revenue to the first drafted budget.

The new budget deducts $5,000 from the fire department lieutenant overtime, $20,000 from police materials and supplies, and $25,000 from engineering expenditures and reallocated that money. That money was then reallocated; while the police department lost $20,000 for materials and supplies, it gained the same amount to pay for two new crossing guards.  The rest of the deductions ($30,000) from fire and engineering budgets will go to the Rye Free Reading room budget.

The council was able to deduct the $25,000 from the engineering department because part time workers from the building department performed work the city had originally budgeted to pay a consultant to do.

With these changes, the new total budget proposed for 2013 is $44,921,350, which represents a 2.7 percent tax rate, down from the original 3.03 tax rate increase, over the 2012 adopted budget.

The proposed 2013 property tax levy is now $20,563,249, which is $592,730 over the 2012 budgeted tax levy.

The proposed property tax rate would be $148.91 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

The budget does not propose to cut any programs or services for 2013.

The proposed levy tax is about $117,000 under the state mandated tax cap. The city council opened up the floor for a public hearing to adopt a local law to override the state mandated two percent property tax cap at Wednesday night’s meeting. No one spoke on the issue and, because they don't need to, the council did not adopt a local law. Like last year, they will be below the tax cap with the 2013 budget.

The Council also held a public hearing on the proposed budget, but only two residents spoke on the matter. Rye resident Bob Zahm told the council that if they intend to keep the $300 minimum at the Rye Golf Club they should just increase the annual fee by $300, rather than require members to spend it at the Whitby Castle dining room. Rye resident Jim Amico thanked the council for adding crossing guards, something he has advocated for over the last several years. He also the council tohold a work shop regarding the police department, specifically regarding when and where officers are working. Councilwoman Laura Brett said the council intends to hold that workshop at a February meeting.

The budget public hearing will remain open until Dec. 19, when the council will vote on the final budget.

You can read the first draft of the proposed 2013 budget that does not reflect the current numbers here.

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