Newlin unveils $13.2 million budget proposal

Plan includes no new taxes to town property owners for third straight year

by Terry Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, October 6, 2007

“If you live in Lewiston, one of the biggest issues you have to deal with is over-taxation,” prefaced Supervisor Fred Newlin, commenting on the state of the region’s economy, as he went on to preview the 2008 numbers for the Town of Lewiston’s $13.2 million budget proposal – one which increased by $1 million over last year’s -- but also one which carries no town tax for property owners.

Indeed, life has become good for town residents – thanks chiefly to the New York State Power Authority. “This is the third year of no town taxes,” Newlin said, as he detailed three cost-saving areas factored into this year’s plan, which have come to be directly as a result of NYPA’s 50-year licensing agreement package of financial benefits to Lewiston that have already begun flowing and will be piling up nicely as the months and years go by.

Newlin related for example, the town already has $250,000 in unallocated NYPA monies; in November it will be receiving an $850,000 NYPA bonus payment, and come July 1, 2008, yet another $850,000 NYPA bonus check. What’s more, the town reports that $650,000 in ’08 NYPA money remains unallocated thus far.

As a result, Newlin said, he’s able to offer town residents much more in terms of new expenditures without the added costs, thanks to increases in the revenue stream.

And NYPA Greenway monies, to tune of $511,000 annually over the next 50 years and geared for various, yet-to-be-determined enhancements – are not even factored in Newlin’s ’08 proposal.

$2.6 million in Cost Savings

Among the cost saving areas planned for in Newlin’s ‘08 budget proposal, thanks to NYPA are:

•$150,000 in real property tax savings, year to year, passed along to homeowners in the town in the form of no town tax.

•$160,000 in refuse costs to Modern, absorbed by the town, resulting in an average $35 per household savings.

•$2.345 million in electrical discounts, provided by means of lower electrical bills on a monthly basis to the town’s 6,000-plus households.

“That adds up to almost $2.6 million in savings to town residents,” said Newlin, pointing out that the increase in revenues, again thanks to NYPA, has enabled the town to increase its expenditures. Among the benefactors under Newlin’s proposal is the Lewiston Public Library, which will see its town funding increase $22,500 or seven percent – from $322,000 in 2007 to $344,540 in 2008.

“Mr. Shaw has given me good reasons to provide more funding,” said Newlin, adding that “the Town of Lewiston gives more money to its libraries than any (municipality) in Erie or Niagara county.”

Funding Increases

Other benefactors:

•The Town Highway Department, which will be utilizing some of the aforementioned $850,000 in NYPA stipends for increased paving projects.

•The Village of Lewiston, which will see $740,000 provided under Newlin’s ’08 plan for municipal improvements.

•The town’s $1.6 million Water District improvement project, which this year will see $110,000 in NYPA monies going toward bonding payments.

•Still-to-be finalized funding increases eyed for the Sanborn Historical Society, the Lewiston Historical Society and the Lewiston Senior Center.

The Numbers

Numbers presented thus far in Newlin’s ’08 budget summary total $8,443,753 in appropriations, $7,877,954 in estimated revenues, $555,799 in appropriated fund balances and zero dollars to be raised by taxes. Broken down further, they include:

•The A General Fund, which includes the town and village -- $2,575,840 in appropriations, $2,364,950 in estimated revenues, and a $210,890 appropriated fund balance.

•The B General Fund, comprising town expenses -- $2,069,888 in appropriations, $1,939,979 in estimated revenues, and a $129,909 appropriated fund balance.

•Town Highway (outside the village) -- $2,005,260 in appropriations, $1,790,260 in estimated revenues, and a $215,000 appropriated fund balance.

•The Drainage account – appropriations and revenues – both $234,965.

•The Water Pollution Control Center – appropriations and revenues -- both $1,547,800.

Special District Accounts

Special District funding under Newlin’s proposal totals $4,766,832 in appropriations, $2,654.917 in estimated revenues, $256,992 in appropriated fund balances, and $1,854,923, typically raised by taxes, but already factored in under Newlin’s plan. Included is spending for:

•Lewiston Water improvement -- $1,652,462 appropriated; Fire protection -- $992,340 appropriated; LMISA account -- $1,640,250 appropriated; Lewiston South Sewer -- $302,880 appropriated; Lewiston Heights (special lighting district) -- $20,000 appropriated; and the town’s refuse contract with Modern, $158,900 appropriated.

Newlin reported the ’08 budget envisions no water/sewer rate increases to town residents; allows the town to move forward on capital improvement projects; covers non-mandated costs for residents; and provides for quality-of-life offerings, including a first-rate, full-time police department. Down the road Lewiston is eyeing creation of a town energy services operation to cover power distribution as well as rates and billing. That could likely bring even greater electrical savings to town residents, he said.

Thanks to NYPA, “We have more spending ability now,” Newlin said.

He reported that in coming weeks (the Town Board has a regular meeting on Oct. 15), the town will be further reviewing the ’08 budget numbers with the numerous interests it serves. Open to the public and to be held at Town Hall, Newlin expected the budget review sessions to get under way the week of Oct. 22. He added the town needs to finalize and approve its plan by Nov. 20.