Yates adopts 2.1 percent budget increase

Yates adopts 2.1 percent budget increase

YATES COUNTY--The Yates County Legislature adopted the 2015 budget following a public hearing attended by more than 30 residents Tuesday night, Nov. 18. The final approved tax levy for next year is $15.8 million, up 2.4 percent from last year. The total budget is $42.7 million, up 2.1 percent from last year. Legislators Mark Morris and Gary Montgomery were the only two votes against the budget.

While few residents offered comments during the public hearing portion of the meeting, the legislature debated increasing sales tax revenue projections throughout the meeting. After several rounds of votes and amendments the legislature agreed upon increasing the sales tax projection by $200,000 and using that money to replenish the county's fund balance.
An initial motion was made by Montgomery to increase the sales tax revenue projections from $10.6 million by $400,000 to be used to offset the tax increase. While Morris agreed the county has understated their revenue projections in years past, other legislators thought the $400,000 increase was too much. Legislator Margaret Dunn called the move a "gamble." Montgomery responded by saying "I am not a gambler either," stating his estimates are supported on historical county data.
After a series of other amendments--which included one to put the $400,000 into the fund balance and one to split the difference in half, putting half in fund balance and half toward the tax levy--the amount was eventually lowered to $200,000 by Morris to be used toward the tax levy. Legislator Jim Multer's amendment to have that money put toward the fund balance was approved shortly after, which became the final result when the final motion was voted on.
Yates County Legislative Chairman Tim Dennis said the legislature has a habit of using $2 million in fund balance to offset the tax levy every year. He said to see a real lowering of the levy there needs to be a reduction in expense. Montgomery added the legislature was unsuccessful in reducing expenses much during the legislative budget workshops.
The only other budgetary change came in the form of software upgrades for personnel in the amount of $8,015. County Administrator Sarah Purdy said the budget remains within the state's tax cap, adding residents will receive a rebate check for the amount their taxes will increase for the county. She added this will also include rebates for all other village and town tax increases if those jurisdictions also stayed under the cap.