No tax rate increase, tax levy up 2 percent

SCHUYLER COUNTY—The Schuyler County Legislature approved the 2014 budget with a 2.05 percent tax levy increase and no tax rate increase Tuesday, Nov. 12, following the budget hearing.
The budget was approved, 5-1, with Legislator Barbara Halpin voting against the measure. The total budget equals $42,779,018. While the tax levy increases, the tax rate remains the same as the current rate: $8.36 per $1,000 of a property’s assessed value. The tax levy is the total amount of money the county needs to raise in taxes. The tax rate is the percentage used to calculate a tax bill.
A number of other individual budget measures were adopted at the meeting as well. The legislature approved a 3 percent salary increase for several public officials in 2014 including: commissioner of social services, for a total of $77,250; real property tax director, $81,129; county attorney, $100,940; clerk of the legislature, $49,890; deputy commissioner of elections, $34,750 and $31,827; personnel officer, $65,920; county administrator, $111,448; public defender, $84,048; and commissioners of elections, $12,603.
A full-time senior caseworker position was created for the county’s Department of Social Services at the hourly rate of $20.40. This replaces a vacant case manager position. Aimee Churchill was approved to provide legal services to seniors through the Schuyler County Office for the Aging during 2014. The cost for the county is $125 per hour, not to exceed $10,000, covered by a federal grant.
A one-year agreement with All-Mode Communications was approved for telephone maintenance. The cost for 2014 is $10,920, down from $22,500 in 2013 because the company can no longer provide all of the same services. The county will look into a new provider for software support.
In other business:
• A public hearing for the Lamoka/Waneta Lakes Protection and Rehabilitation District’s assessment roll was scheduled for Dec. 9. It will be held at 6:45 p.m. in the legislative chambers, 105 Ninth St. in Watkins Glen.
• Legislator Thomas Gifford was appointed to fill a position on the Schuyler Head Start board of directors, being vacated by Halpin.
• Dec. 2 to 6, 2013, will be recognized as employee learning week.