Final village budget to be set on Tuesday

by Joshua Maloni
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 27, 2007

Though it previously hinted at the presentation and adoption of a final budget for 2007-08, the Village of Lewiston Board of Trustees on Monday offered a preliminary tax rate instead. At this point, the municipality will spend $2,884,385, while collecting $6.27 per $1,000 of assessed valuation from residents.

The tax rate is just under a five percent increase from the current charge of $5.95 per $1,000.

“Everybody wants budgets to go down, we do too,” Mayor Richard Soluri said. “But there’s a lot of requests for our money.”

He said the tax bump is due to a contractual 4.1 percent salary increase for the Department of Public Works, as well as increases for the Clerk’s Office and the Recreation Department. It’s also a result of funding set aside for worker’s compensation, medical expenses and the firefighter’s incentive plan.

Soluri pointed out there would be no pay raise for the board, the village attorney, building inspector or zoning officer.

He also said the village’s tax rate is lower than the vast majority of local communities.

“I think we’re doing a decent job,” Soluri said.

He noted the board, if possible, would like to set aside some money for the Lewiston Public Library for a project or event.

“It’s a town responsibility, (but) we’d still like to attach our name to a children’s activity or a set of books,” Soluri said.

Trustee Ken Kenney echoed that statement, saying, “I’m for giving the library something. I think the people in the village should give something to the library.”

Soluri said the final budget will be presented at a special 4 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, April 24, at 5 p.m., in the Red Brick Municipal Building, corner of North Forth and Ridge streets.