An Open Letter to Town of Forestport Taxpayers:
Prior to the Town of Forestport’s Fiscal Year 2014, the amount budgeted for it was $1,019,279.94.
At the close of fiscal year 2014, with final costs determined, the Town of Forestport was found to have operated for just $811,292.95.
That is $207,986.99 under budget for 2014.
The 2013 year-end operating expense, from the last administration, was $855,321.46. If you subtract the 2014 operating expense of $811,292.95 you see a savings of $44,028.51 to the taxpayers.
In short, during my first year, 2014, our Town Board reduced the actual operating cost to the Taxpayers by 5%.
Our 2015 budget reduces the budget, on the Town side by $126,423.63. I expect further reductions of Town operating costs when the numbers come in at the end of 2015.
As it stands, we stayed within the state-mandated Tax Cap by submitting what the state terms a “freeze-compliant budget”; a desirable result for taxpayers.
The question quickly becomes: What about a tax cut?
The problem is that even with our frugal spending, the General Reserve Fund dropped from $653,191.79 to $585,191.79. That is shrinkage of $67,281.21 in 2014.
We need to stabilize the decline in the General Reserve Fund, because that decline means that we are not taking in enough revenues to cover the cost of operating the Town.
Last year, we brought in $67,281.21 less than was required. This was the fifth yearly decline in a row.
These numbers concern me because we had record sales tax from the county this year and it clearly demonstrates why I have been pushing so hard to get our financial house in order.
If we can stabilize the General Reserve Fund and see it increase, we can shift funds to offset the Highway Tax Levy thus reducing your taxes.
We will accomplish this by continuing to streamline and improve the cost of services and to continue to reduce entitlement cost to the taxpayers.
This has been extremely difficult work. If cutting the cost of government was easy, everyone would do it.
Parker Snead, Supervisor
Town of Forestport