Austerity Budgets Firm Up

4-16-10

COOPERSTOWN

In an austerity year, Cooperstown’s municipal and school budgets are coming into harrowing focus.
• The village trustees have approved a tentative budget of $3,248,668, a 4.4 percent increase in the general fund, reflecting 3 percent tax increase over this year.  But Mayor Joe Booan had scheduled another meeting for 5 p.m. Thursday, April 15, at 22 Main, to take another look at it.
• The Cooperstown Central school board adopted a tentative 2010-11 budget Wednesday, April 7, which eliminates the equivalent of 9.9 positions (and adds 1.6 others back in).  While the $15,965,502 proposal is 3.5 percent below this year, it would raise taxes 5.8 percent.

In an interview, Booan declined to give details before sharing them with trustees, but said he has asked Village Treasurer Mary Ann Henderson “to present a couple of scenarios.”
The trustees are required by state law to approve a budget by May 1, so Booan said there is still time for additional meetings before approving a final document.
The April 7 school board meeting was preceded by a 45-minute session where public input was solicited, and 15 speakers asked specific question on a range of particulars.
The budget hearing is at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 6, at the cafeteria, with another Tuesday, May 12 at the Rotary Club.  The budget vote is 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 18.