BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Board of Trustees approved a $7.4 million budget that would raise property, water and sewer taxes Monday night in a 4-1 vote.
The budget is an 8.4% increase from the current almost $6.8 million budget.
Residents who live in the town of Milton would see taxes increase from $5.42 to $5.62 per $1,000 of assessed value. Those in Ballston would see taxes go up from $5.44 to $5.57 per $1,000 of assessed value.
The increases proposed remain under the 2% tax levy cap.
Part of the increase comes from higher retirement benefit costs, workers’ compensation rates due to delayed claims, and various state mandates, Mayor Frank Rossi previously indicated.
Water and sewer rates would also increase 8%. Of the 8% water rate increase, 4.75% would go toward water tower debt service, water tower maintenance or a water tower reserve fund, according to the village resolution.
Of the 8% for the sewer rate increase, 3% would go toward contingency funding and if it goes unused it would go into the sewer fund balance.
The budget does not increase trustees’ or the mayor’s pay but does provide an at least 2% increase for other village employees. Court staff, library staff, planning and zoning board members, the building department clerk and crossing guards were among the larger pay increases.
Trustee Ben Baskin sought an amendment Monday night to the budget to increase trustee pay 2.5% but that ultimately failed in a 3-2 vote.
Baskin, who was the only person to oppose approving the budget, blasted Mayor Frank Rossi’s budget process prior to the vote.
“The mayor has significantly curtailed trustee involvement in the development and discussion of the budget, a departure from the practices of three previous administrations,” Baskin said during the meeting.
He went on to state that the budget documents weren’t easy to read or user friendly and that he and Trustee Shawn Raymond were also left out of discussions with departments regarding the budget.
Former trustee Liz Kormos also criticized the budget process as well as the increase in water and sewer rates during the public comment period Monday night.
“The 8% water rise in rate will impact our low-income seniors most,” Kormos said. “The proposed rate continues the practice of undercharging the largest users of our water.”
While not everyone agreed with the budget or budget process, Rossi said Tuesday in a statement that he was proud of the approved budget and the fact that the village was able to avoid breaking the tax cap.
“We did this while ensuring infrastructure and facilities continue to improve, arts and events continue to be a major focus, and maintenance of services our residents expect continue without curtailment,” he said. “While challenges will continue into the next budget years with rising benefits, infrastructure, and facilities costs, we are in a position to ensure that we minimize the impacts on our taxpayers over the next few years.”