COLUMBUS – The Town of Columbus Board heard residents’ concerns for the 2014 budget during a public comment session held Monday before making last-minute changes to keep the town’s financial plan under the state mandated two percent tax cap.
Board members heard residents speak for nearly an hour before passing a resolution to approve a 2014 budget. Final budget modifications encompass a $3,000 cut to the park contractual line and a transfer of more than $6,000 from reserve accounts, leaving $18,000 in the town’s repair reserves.
According to town officials, adopted changes put the final budget below the two percent cap.
“Any tax increase at this time is not warranted,” Columbus resident Roger Adams said prior to the budget’s adoption. Adams pointed out that property owners in Columbus have already been effected by a recent school district tax increase and given the limited tax base in the township, even a slight increase can pile on the burden. “We can’t keep hitting them (the taxpayer) over the head,” he said.
Although the forthcoming budget includes big changes for Columbus – including $6,291 for tentative police protection from the Town of New Berlin and potential changes in the future to include part-time salary for a court clerk, pending approval from the New York State Unified Court System – it was the $50,000 contractual obligation to the Unadilla Valley Ambulance Corporation (UVAC) that had many residents voicing concern.
“By paying that $50,000, you’re putting us in a bind,” said Adams, noting that the Town of New Berlin which shares services and costs of UVAC with Columbus, has yet to obtain a Certificate of Need (CON).
A Certificate of Need is a state regulated program that allows for coordinated planning of new health care services like UVAC. Columbus obtained a CON earlier this year and a contract with UVAC to provide services to Columbus for an 18 month period is currently being examined by the town’s attorney.
Adams went on to say that should New Berlin not be able to get a Certificate of Need, then costs to support the 24-hour paid ambulance service would be put on the shoulders of Columbus tax payers. “We would be stuck with UVAC,” he said.
Town resident Jim Lambert asked that the board “consider making quarterly payments” to UVAC rather paying the full $50,000 up front – a motion favored by several other residents but not addressed any further by board members at the time. Should UVAC ultimately limit its operations or encounter its own financial burdens in the future, quarterly payments would keep Columbus taxpayers from losing the full $50,000, Lambert argued.
Additional concerns surrounding tentative police protection from the Town of New Berlin were also at the forefront for many residents. While the board ultimately agreed police protection in the township is necessary and may increase revenue through an increased number of fines, some residents question if it would be enough to offset costs.
“We already get a lot of protection from the Chenango County Sheriff,” said resident Richard Horton. “If it’s not broken, we shouldn’t throw money at it.”