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Frankfort, N.Y. —
Work on the village budget for 2013 - 2014 will be getting under way and, according to Frankfort Mayor Frank Moracco, it won’t be an easy project.
“We knew going in this would be an extremely difficult year,” he said during Thursday’s village department meeting. He pointed to some of the needs department heads have submitted: A tanker for the fire department, vehicles for the police department and repairs to the department of public works building, as well as equipment concerns.
“If one of our large plows goes down, we’re trouble,” he said.
He also pointed to the need to demolish a building on Frankfort Street and the fact 2013 marks the village’s 150th year, a milestone that should be celebrated.
“All these are legitimate needs,” said Moracco. “Unfortunately, there’s only so much we can go after. We need to take a serious look at what we have to offer.”
The mayor asked village trustees to do some brainstorming on what alternatives the village can provide for what is needed for the various departments to do their work.
He said he would be working with Village Treasurer Doreen Fiorentino to formulate a budget. Once the budget is drafted, he said, it will go to the village trustees and he will indicate what the tax rate increase would be. The village board can accept or reject the plan and conduct workshops to consider what changes can be made.
Village officials are facing some challenges with the budget for the current year. The board received a request from the village treasurer to freeze spending until the new fiscal year begins in May.
Moracco said the village’s fund balance has dwindled. He also noted the village had an unanticipated expense of $96,000 this year after a couple of local businesses brought a grievance of their taxes and won.
Raising taxes by one percent would generate $8,200 in revenue, Moracco said and added, “It would take a 12 percent tax increase just to recover that loss.”
He noted even that wouldn’t account for increases such as that of health insurance costs.
“We need to take a serious look at this budget and make cuts where needed,” he said.
The board received two bids, one for $59,950 and the other for $68,750, for the demolition of the property at 202 Frankfort St., which has fallen into disrepair. The board rejected both bids.
Last month, the board had authorized Superintendent Ron Vivacqua to seek bids for the project to find out what the approximate cost would be, but retained the right to accept or reject any and all bids.
“I don’t think it’s feasible,” said Trustee James Alsante.
Moracco agreed. “Based on the information we received from the treasurer, I don’t think it’s financially feasible to take on this type of project,” he said.
He asked if liability would fall on the village if someone were injured due to the condition of the structure. Village Attorney Peter Hobaica said the landowner is responsible if something happens, but added there could potentially be an argument that the village bears responsibility. He added the village could take the building down if there is “dire necessity” that the work be done immediately.
“It’s not teetering and things aren’t falling into the street,” he said. “An argument could be made that it’s safe to leave it in the condition it is now.”
Fire Chief Charles Conigliaro requested and received authorization to draw up specifications for a tanker truck. He also asked if grant funding might be available to replace the windows on the fire station. He said other improvements made to the station have been effective in reducing heating bills and this one should be as well. The mayor asked Village Clerk Karlee Tamburro to touch base the with the village’s grant writer about this possibility.
Work on the village budget for 2013 - 2014 will be getting under way and, according to Frankfort Mayor Frank Moracco, it won’t be an easy project.
“We knew going in this would be an extremely difficult year,” he said during Thursday’s village department meeting. He pointed to some of the needs department heads have submitted: A tanker for the fire department, vehicles for the police department and repairs to the department of public works building, as well as equipment concerns.
“If one of our large plows goes down, we’re trouble,” he said.
He also pointed to the need to demolish a building on Frankfort Street and the fact 2013 marks the village’s 150th year, a milestone that should be celebrated.
“All these are legitimate needs,” said Moracco. “Unfortunately, there’s only so much we can go after. We need to take a serious look at what we have to offer.”
The mayor asked village trustees to do some brainstorming on what alternatives the village can provide for what is needed for the various departments to do their work.
He said he would be working with Village Treasurer Doreen Fiorentino to formulate a budget. Once the budget is drafted, he said, it will go to the village trustees and he will indicate what the tax rate increase would be. The village board can accept or reject the plan and conduct workshops to consider what changes can be made.
Village officials are facing some challenges with the budget for the current year. The board received a request from the village treasurer to freeze spending until the new fiscal year begins in May.
Moracco said the village’s fund balance has dwindled. He also noted the village had an unanticipated expense of $96,000 this year after a couple of local businesses brought a grievance of their taxes and won.
Raising taxes by one percent would generate $8,200 in revenue, Moracco said and added, “It would take a 12 percent tax increase just to recover that loss.”
He noted even that wouldn’t account for increases such as that of health insurance costs.
“We need to take a serious look at this budget and make cuts where needed,” he said.
The board received two bids, one for $59,950 and the other for $68,750, for the demolition of the property at 202 Frankfort St., which has fallen into disrepair. The board rejected both bids.
Last month, the board had authorized Superintendent Ron Vivacqua to seek bids for the project to find out what the approximate cost would be, but retained the right to accept or reject any and all bids.
“I don’t think it’s feasible,” said Trustee James Alsante.
Moracco agreed. “Based on the information we received from the treasurer, I don’t think it’s financially feasible to take on this type of project,” he said.
He asked if liability would fall on the village if someone were injured due to the condition of the structure. Village Attorney Peter Hobaica said the landowner is responsible if something happens, but added there could potentially be an argument that the village bears responsibility. He added the village could take the building down if there is “dire necessity” that the work be done immediately.
“It’s not teetering and things aren’t falling into the street,” he said. “An argument could be made that it’s safe to leave it in the condition it is now.”
Fire Chief Charles Conigliaro requested and received authorization to draw up specifications for a tanker truck. He also asked if grant funding might be available to replace the windows on the fire station. He said other improvements made to the station have been effective in reducing heating bills and this one should be as well. The mayor asked Village Clerk Karlee Tamburro to touch base the with the village’s grant writer about this possibility.
