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Porter Board OKs $4.471 million plan

by jmaloni
Sat, Nov 19th 2011 07:25 am

by Terry Duffy

Without much fanfare, the Town of Porter adopted its $4.471 million budget Monday on a unanimous vote. The budget, detailed in last week's Sentinel and in earlier issues, includes a tax rate of $1.837 per thousand of assessed valuation for Porter property owners, an increase of roughly 9 cents over last year.

By the numbers, it includes $4.471 million in total expenses and $4.013 million in total revenues.

As to appropriations, it includes: General Fund A, $1.086 million; General Fund B, $1.165 million; Highway DA Townwide, $1,430; Highway DB Outside Village, $938,761; Water Department, $378,622; Sewer Department, $373,178; Capital Projects, $0; and Porter on the Lake, $20,064.

Under special districts: Town of Porter Lighting (Ransomville Light), $9,500; Porter lateral (west sewer district), $6,925; Ransomville Fire, $257,495; Youngstown Fire, $161,200; Lakeshore Improvement Areas I, II and III, $52,300; water line upgrade, $16,071; and Mallory/Groveland Road Project (funded by residents), $3,965.

Taking a look further, among the revenue highlights that total $1.036 million in one account are $688,169 from real property taxes; $100,000 from the 2 percent tax levied on CWM Chemical Services; $65,000 from mortgage taxes; and $48,750 in sales taxes.

And a look at one expense ledger with a spending total of $1.086 million, highlights include funding for: library contractual, $142,468; $124,000 in hospital medical accounts; town justice accounts, $87,555; town supervisor accounts, $79,744; town clerk accounts, $77,321; town assessor accounts, $66,992; town highway superintendent accounts, $53,977; town garbage accounts, $50,554; town buildings accounts, $59,054; town board accounts, $29,160; town attorney accounts, $25,000 and town contingency accounts, $25,000.

"A lot of work has gone into this," commented Town Supervisor Mert Wiepert. "It's a good budget." Following significant discussion and some disagreement heard in earlier budget workshop sessions, board members concurred Monday with their approval.

In other news from the session,

•The Town Board approved specifics of the Porter on the Lake Master Plan, one that if fully implemented includes up to $8 million in potential improvements for the lakeside park off Dietz Road. Among improvements currently under consideration is a $800,000 project that carries 50 percent in applied-for grant funding, with the balance to be paid by the town if completed. Considered would be a perimeter trail; shoreline stabilization; waterfront promenade and a lakeside restroom.

•The board reviewed and approved Wiepert's October report, which revealed a September sales taxes of $32,092.93, for an accumulated surplus of $35,853.26 thus far for 2011.

•Town justice revenues, from fines collected at Porter Town Court, were reported. Year to date totals: gross revenues, $48,838.25 and net revenues, $26,301.75.

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