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RFH 2010, Cover Stories, News

Special Meeting on Town Budget Thursday

Mon, Dec 06, 2010

Despite having accumulated a $1.2 million surplus, the Town of Hamilton's 2011 budget still contains an 8 percent increase for the outside taxing district, while village taxpayers will see what they pay the town decrease by 23 percent.

A public hearing and special meeting to discuss this and possibly amend the budget will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday in the town hall.  The meeting is open and town residents are encouraged to attend. The board could vote to change the budget, lowering the increase to just 1 percent.

When the budget was approved in the board voted to apply $50,000 of the fund balance to lower taxes. Town Supervisor Bob Kuiper said he had requested $100,000 of the surplus be applied to the 2011 budget, but the board rejected that request.

A recently-released audit by the state comptroller's office discovered the large cash reserve, which is more than a typical year's entire budget for the town. The cash accumulated because of lax record keeping practices, according to the comptroller's report. The report also faulted the town for not filing required financial reports with the state for several years.

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