More discussion needed on Hanover budget
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HANOVER -- After objections from fire departments and local officials, the 2027 Town of Hanover Budget has been tabled again for further discussion.
A public hearing is set for Monday, Nov. 9 at 7:05 p.m., shortly after the regular Town Board meeting begins, for the purpose of revisiting the fire protection contracts between the Town of Hanover and the Forestville Fire Department. Following the public hearing, the Town Board expects to take action on the budget.
Elmar Kiefer, Town of Hanover Accountant, presented the 2027 preliminary budget at a public hearing on Oct. 13. That same night, the Town Board also held a public hearing for three fire protection contracts – two with the Forestville Fire Department and one with Perrysburg for a small portion of one of the districts. The Board then approved the three fire protection contracts – amounting to $36,986 for Forestville in Fire Protection District No. 1 and $32,045 for Forestville in Fire Protection District No. 2, along with $2,550 for Perrysburg's portion of District No. 2. The contracts represent a 3% increase for the Forestville Fire Department and a 2% increase for Perrysburg.
However, there was a miscommunication between the Town and the Forestville Fire Department regarding a portion of the coverage area. The Town Board was under the impression that Forestville would be covering part of the town that is not covered by the Bay Creek Fire District, but Forestville thought otherwise. As a result, the Town Board will present new fire protection contracts at its next regular Town Board meeting.
Regarding the budget itself, the Town proposed a total amount of $7,233,221. Of that amount, $2,170,603 is set to be raised by taxes. Kiefer stated the increase to the tax rate in the town for 2027 will be "very, very little", amounting to roughly one quarter of one percent. Instead, increases will be seen in special districts, such as water districts and lighting districts. When it comes to the general fund and the highway department budgets, Kiefer said the tax rate will be $3.27 per thousand, just as it was a year ago.
Another budgetary expense, however, is the contract with the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office for enhanced police protection. To that end, comments from Silver Creek Mayor Kathy Tampio on behalf of the Village Board and Silver Creek residents have led to more discussion about shared services and intermunicipal agreements between the Village and the Town. The Town Board delayed taking action on the 2027 budget to further assess all of the agreements between the two municipalities.
Tampio asked the Town to consider a 60/40 split of the sheriff's contract, rather than 50/50, because the Town is responsible for more than 60% of the total share of incidents each month and more than 60% of the population that is served. Tampio felt a 60/40 split was fair to the Village taxpayers.
Since her comments, however, the Town Board has highlighted similar agreements where they feel the Town is doing more than its fair share. Councilman Ed Schintzius spoke with various departments and presented figures at the latest meeting regarding code enforcement, the Town Justice Court, and other miscellaneous costs such as the Summer Recreation program, the Festival of Grapes, and the Bay Creek Fire District.
Schintzius said, "It is important to look at the bigger picture and recognize the many other services for which the Town already pays a significantly larger share for the Village. Fairness and equity must be considered across the board, not just when one particular expense becomes an issue."
The Village pays $1,000 per month for code enforcement through the Town, but Schintzius said the Town pays approximately $100,000 per year in salaries and other costs related to code enforcement. The Town pays more than $120,000 yearly for its Justice Court, of which 30-40% of the cases stem from the Village, while the Town receives fees and other reimbursements for doing so.
"We need to look at the overall balance of cost and contributions made before deciding what is a fair share," Schintzius said. "... Relationships should be considered thoughtfully as we work together for a fair understanding of these shared costs and responsibilities."
Schintzius told Tampio that he wanted to sit down with her to further discuss all of the figures he presented in the coming days prior to the budget being finalized.
"I think that's very fair," Tampio said to Schintzius.
Tampio spoke with Schintzius immediately following the Board meeting to schedule a time to do so. Supervisor Lou Pelletter and Deputy Mayor Jeff Hornburg both declined to speak further on the matter during open comments at the recent meeting.