Bedford Budget Comes In Under State Tax Levy Cap

BEDFORD, N.Y. – The Bedford Town Board has adopted a $26,880,503 budget for 2013, which, unlike the 2012 budget, falls under the state’s 2 percent property tax levy cap by $46,000. That eliminates the need for the board to pass legislation authorizing the town to override the cap.

Bedford Town Councilman David Gabrielson praised town department heads for making sacrifices that helped the 2013 budget come in under the 2 percent tax levy cap.
Photo Credit: *Liz Button*

by Liz Button

12/05/2012 8:00 p.m.

Passed at Tuesday’s board meeting, the budget’s call for more than $26 million in spending includes $19,170, 234 in the general fund, $7,282,543 in the highway fund and a total of $177,640 in the open space fund, which the public voted to preserve in a November referendum.

Property taxes will rise by 80 cents for each $1,000 of assessed value, to $31.01. While that jump represents a 2.66 percent increase over this year’s $30.21, it does not exceed the state’s 2 percent limitation on tax increases based on the total tax levy.

For the average home in Bedford assessed at $65,000, this amounts to a $52.25 annual total tax increase.

After initially facing the prospect of $1.3 million in increased expense over the 2012 budget, seven grueling budget work sessions allowed the town board to whittle its expenses to $46,000 under the cap.

Supervisor Lee V.A. Roberts said, in addition to the cap, the board had to deal with unfunded state mandates that necessitated a $335,000 increase in health care premiums and a $300,000 increase in employee pension contributions for 2013, as well as other various unfunded mandates, such as the MTA tax.

“The town of Bedford is in sound financial shape, but each year presents an ever greater challenge to work within the confines of the cap and still maintain the services that our taxpayers expect,” she said.

This year, the town was able to save money in a number of ways. One example is the Bedford Central School District’s offer to pay the student resource officer’s salary, which saved the town $75,000. Additionally, six policemen are retiring from the Bedford force this year, thus making room for new recruits who will command lower salaries.

Before unanimously adopting the budget, the board voted 3-2 against adopting a resolution to implement legislation to override the 2 percent tax levy cap.

Last year it was necessary to adopt legislation to override the cap because the town went over due to the consolidated water district. This year, Deputy Supervisor Peter Chryssos, supported by Councilman David Gabrielson, said he was still in favor of passing the override legislation to send the state a message.

While Councilman Chris Burdick said he did not see the purpose of such a symbolic action, Chryssos said this would show Albany that Bedford would not "cowtow to their arbitrary rules of a 2 percent budget cap.”

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