This article ran in Sunday's Buffalo News. I hate articles like this because it allows for some dangerous spin. At first glance, most people would skim the article and think, "hey, my tax rate is going down! Yay!"
It's a mirage, folks....
2009 Royalton budget reduces tax rates for town, village
ROYALTON — The Town Board last week adopted a $5.7 million town budget for 2009 that reduces the tax rate in a town that saw whopping increases two years ago.
Next year, residents outside of the Village of Middleport will see their tax rate decrease by 50 cents, to $3.18 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, while Middleport residents will see their tax rate drop 27 cents, to $1.81 per $1,000.
Town Assessor Thomas Arlington attributed the board’s ability to drop the tax rate to an increase in the tax base because of a townwide reassessment this year.
Supervisor Richard Lang said spending stayed the same or dropped slightly in each of the town’s departments except refuse collection, which saw a slight increase.
Lang said the town was able to offer a decrease in taxes due to the reassessment and the town’s fund balance.
“Our new accountants are quite pleased with our books,” he said.
In November 2006, the board adopted a 2007 budget that included a 266 percent tax increase in Middleport and a 67 percent increase in taxes for residents outside the village.
It's a mirage, folks....
2009 Royalton budget reduces tax rates for town, village
ROYALTON — The Town Board last week adopted a $5.7 million town budget for 2009 that reduces the tax rate in a town that saw whopping increases two years ago.
Next year, residents outside of the Village of Middleport will see their tax rate decrease by 50 cents, to $3.18 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, while Middleport residents will see their tax rate drop 27 cents, to $1.81 per $1,000.
Town Assessor Thomas Arlington attributed the board’s ability to drop the tax rate to an increase in the tax base because of a townwide reassessment this year.
Supervisor Richard Lang said spending stayed the same or dropped slightly in each of the town’s departments except refuse collection, which saw a slight increase.
Lang said the town was able to offer a decrease in taxes due to the reassessment and the town’s fund balance.
“Our new accountants are quite pleased with our books,” he said.
In November 2006, the board adopted a 2007 budget that included a 266 percent tax increase in Middleport and a 67 percent increase in taxes for residents outside the village.
