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From the desk of Lima
Supervisor
Pete Yendell
Budget update:
The Lima Town Board adopted the 2010 budget. The townwide portion of
the budget increased slightly. As a result, the property tax rate
per $1000.00 of assessed value will increase from $2.80 to $2.85.
This rate increase translates to an additional $5 in taxes on a
property assessed for $100,000. I believe in today’s economic
environment this is a great accomplishment by the Board. We needed
to use a little more of the fund balance to keep the rates this low,
however that is why we carry a fund balance.
The Town Outside of
Village budget decreased 1.27%. Including the fire tax, residents
outside of the Village served by the Lima Volunteer Fire Department
will pay approximately $511.07 per $100,000 of assessment, a
decrease from $516.65 paid in 2009. Residents of South Lima who are
served by the Lakeville Volunteer Fire Department will pay $547.34
per $100,000 of assessment as compared to $538.20 in 2009.
The main reason for the
reduction was that we were able to pass along the savings we
realized as a result of third (3rd)
party billing that was instituted by the Lima Ambulance Corps. The
reimbursements received from insurance companies represent a new
source of revenue that must be used to offset ambulance expenses and
will thereby reduce the expenses that must be covered by property
taxes. We thank the Lima Ambulance Corps for working with us to
implement this change of policy.
Each year, as we work
through the budget process, we try very hard to control costs. We
are at the point where we have very little left to trim. We face all
the same issues in the budgeting process as you do in your
individual budgets such as rising costs of health care, retirement
contributions, utilities, and materials for maintenance and repairs.
At the same time, yields on the Town’s interest bearing accounts
decreased from 1.45% last year to .45% this year, returning less
revenue to offset expenses. We will continue to do the best we can
while still providing for the health, safety, and welfare of our
constituents.
Town Hall Repairs:
In preparation for the colder weather, I had the boiler
inspected before we turned on the heat. Upon inspection, several
leaks in the boiler plates were discovered. The existing boiler was
24 years old and it was determined that a replacement boiler was
needed. We obtained price quotes from several heating companies. The
lowest quote was from Van Hook Service Company. The cost for the
new, more efficient, steam boiler installed was just over
$19,000.00. The new boiler has 3 fewer boiler plates; however it
produces more output than the old one. The money for the replacement
was taken from our building reserve fund.
Town Zoning Update:
The Town is close to adopting an update to the Town Code. The
proposed revisions have been developed over the past year and a half
by a committee led by Councilman Bruce Mayer and including
representatives from Town and Village boards, planning boards and
zoning boards of appeals as well as the Town Attorney, Code
Enforcement Officer a local business representative and a Town
resident. The Committee worked with Barbara Johnston of the
consulting firm LaBella Associates. The revisions will implement
objectives established in the Town’s Comprehensive Plan which was
adopted in March of 2008.
Agricultural and
Farmland Protection Plan: Lima will soon become one of the first
municipalities in New York State to adopt a plan to help sustain the
Town’s farm business sector. Funded by a matching grant from the New
York State Department of Agriculture, this project has been underway
for over a year. Dennis Neenan and Ted Zornow co-chaired an
agriculture advisory committee that was appointed to develop the
plan. Consultant Diane Held of the American Farmland Trust and
George Frantz, an agricultural zoning expert, worked with the
Committee to review zoning regulations in the Town’s agricultural
zones and to identify actions that will support agriculture and,
thereby, help maintain the character of the Town’s agricultural
areas
The Town Board wishes
everyone a safe and happy holiday season.
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