The Orleans County Legislature adopted a $70.7 million 2009 budget Wednesday, with a tax levy of $13.8 million. The tax rate will be the same as in 2008 — $9.16 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Chairman Henry Smith Jr. thanked department heads, legislators, the treasurer’s office and everyone involved for their work with this year’s budget.
“I think you all did a tremendous job,” Smith said. “Without you, we would have never gotten to where we are today.”
The budget passed by five votes. Legislator William Eick was not in attendance and Legislator Gary Kent abstained.
“The entire Legislature spends a lot of time on the budget,” Kent said. “Hour after hour, day after day. I think that might be misunderstood by some of the people in the community. I think generally speaking, we did a really fine job on the budget. I think it could have been a little bit better.”
Kent also said that part of the county’s taxes go to the villages and towns around Orleans County. He said legislators could have lowered the tax rate by 91 cents per $1,000 if they didn’t give to the local municipalities.
The total spending for 2009 is projected to be $70,655,343, with total revenues projected at $55,730,711. After cash surplus deductions, there was a $76,691 tax levy increase from the 2008 fiscal year.
In other board news:
n The board passed a new policy for the submission of assigned counsel claims for payment. This was an issue the board was facing, with attorneys not turning in their claims in what the Legislature considered a timely manner.
The new policy states that for compensation, counsel should submit to a magistrate, judge or justice as soon as possible, but no later than 90 days from the conclusion of representation on a case.
“The assigned counsel claims have been coming in quite late,” Legislator Lynne Johnson said. “It’s caused quite a headache for our treasurer.”
Legislator Kenneth Rush said that after auditing the bills, this new policy was needed because many assigned counsel were still turning in claims dating back to June 2006.
The Legislature will be notifying the Orleans County Bar Association, as well as other organizations, of the new policy.
Local News
Orleans County adopts $70.7M budget
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Local pro-lifers protest in D.C.
Thousands of abortion opponents marched to the Supreme Court on Monday to mark the 39th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, and supportive lawmakers urged them to further their cause by working to defeat President Barack Obama in the fall.
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Cardenas trail set for March
The trial of Carlos Cardenas will move forward in March at the Orleans County Court following the conclusion of a pre-trail hearing on the admissibility of statements made by Cardenas.
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Board resets salaries
Albion Town Clerk Sarah Basinait and Highway Superintendent Jed Standish, whose salaries were chopped in the 2012 town budget, will not see a pay decrease after all.
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Senate passes Abbagail's Law
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YMCA growth is community plus
Efforts to expand both regionally and in programming is apparently paying big dividends as YMCA membership is up some 35 percent over the past year and a half.
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Library story hour
Children’s Services Librarian Sue McAllister is reading a story to children from the Head Start program at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library. This is a monthly story hour program the library does for Head Start.
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Albion tries to figure out Albany's intent
The imposition of a property tax cap is forcing the Albion Central School District to make budget changes, but Superintendent Michael Bonnewell says the issue is due more to an unknown procedure than the levy requirements.
Albion has held tax rates level or lower in recent years. The district is still working to determine where the levy will land, but they expect to slide well below the state-set ceiling for property tax levy increases.
The challenge Albion faces, Bonnewell said, is correctly deciphering the state’s intentions and avoiding penalties if they guess wrong. -
Wine About Winter ramping up
Downtown Medina Businesses will once again be opening their doors and popping corks to celebrate Wine About Winter, which returns for a third year from 2 to 7 p.m. Feb. 4.
More than 30 businesses will participate in the Medina Business Association event, which gives patrons a wine glass and a map of local businesses hosting wine tastings and special offers. -
Strickland Auxiliary donated to vets
Recently Patricia Nolan, president; Corinne Pahura, first vice president and chairman of veterans and family support committee; and Joyce O’Connor, treasurer of Strickland Ladies Auxiliary, Post No. 4635 Veterans of Foreign Wars, delivered a check for $500 to Paul Fulcomer, executive director of Orleans County Joint Council.
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Dinner, dancing and fundraising
The Lyndonville Music Boosters are hosting a night of dinner and dancing Saturday as part of the final push to raise funds for a music trip to Orlando.
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