Budget with 8% tax hike scrutinized
Fate of town police remains cloudy
The Daily Mail
Nov. 13, 2009

Roughly 50 people packed the courtroom in Cairo’s municipal building to voice concerns over the town’s proposed budgets for public safety, health benefits for the Town Board and the salary of the Court Clerk.

The budget hearing was adjourned until Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. in order for the Board to reconsider some of the concerns brought up by the public.

The Board presented a budget with an 8.43 percent tax rate increase, or 55 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, from $6.52 to $7.07.

The town’s tax levy would be $2,620,875, Coyne said, adding that he expects to receive $57,500 in county chargebacks.

Coyne said the town’s general fund is increasing $34,980 in appropriations. He said revenues will increase 5 percent from last year, or $25,975. He said the board expects a decrease in revenues from interest and mortgage tax.

The roughly $3,877,000 preliminary budget is about $323,000 less than the tentative budget the Board was considering.

Coyne said nearly every department’s budget had been cut during departmental and board discussions.

Only employees represented by bargaining units, such as Ambulance and EMT responders, will receive raises, Coyne said.

He thanked Town employees for going without a raise for the second year in a row.

“They realize they are still receiving a paycheck and are willing to work with the Town,” he said. “I am very proud of our employees for their understanding during this terrible economic time.”

The budget reflects increases in retirement benefits, workers’ compensation and health insurance.

Coyne said, however, that the final impact of those increases less than a 1 percent increase in the total Town taxable assessed value.

One dozen Cairo residents lobbied the Board during the hearing to approve the budget line for the town’s police department.

The Town Board had rejected the proposed budget of about $284,500 and said they would look for another way to police the town’s streets and neighborhoods.

Last week, Police Chief Chris Sprague presented the board with a revised budget that was $68,000 lower than the original amount.

Officers offered to take pay cuts in order to keep a presence in the town, Coyne said. The force’s 16-hour shift will also be reduced to one 12-hour shift per day beginning at 12 p.m. if the budget is adopted.

Nicole Maggio, who said police have helped her deal with trespassers on her property, said she understood if the shift-change was necessary to cut the budget, but the services conducted by Cairo’s police were indispensable.

“I really hope you guys take a good look at [the budget],” she said, “if you eliminate the police department you are going to be putting this Town in a world of trouble.”

Others said a police presence around Cairo Elementary School deters speeders and without that presence, children could be in danger.

Cairo-Durham Central School District Superintendent Sally Sharkey pointed out that Cairo police assist in making sure students can get safely into school buildings and respond immediately to any emergencies at district facilities.

“Safety is our number one issue,” she said.

Police also run a DARE program for district students. Others pointed out that police are quick to respond burglaries, calls to Main Street and those to the town’s park, where the station is located.

Local police know the town’s roads and neighborhoods, they said, whereas officers from other departments may be unfamiliar with hangouts and landmarks.

Elizabeth Brinkerhoff questioned the intelligence of the Board’s decision to save money by housing stray dogs on Town property under the supervision of police officers rather than renewing a contract with a local business to care for the animals.

Erica DeLong agreed.

She pointed out that the arrangement added responsibilities to police officers who were facing pay cuts while at the same time was taking revenue away from a local enterprise.

Coyne said the new arrangement would save the town $8,250.

DeLong and John Morgese asked how the Board could allow police officers to take pay cuts while the Board accepted health benefits that would cost the Town roughly $50,000.

Cairo justices Thomas Baldwin and Tanja Sirago asked the Board to consider giving Court Clerk April Saccoccio a pay increase.

Baldwin explained that Saccoccio’s workload was about to increase and she was about to become a department head but, as budgeted, her salary would remain the same.

Councilman Raymond Suttmeier suggested that the hearing remain open so the Board could discuss another budget revision.

“We have to review the results of the public hearing,” he said.

The Board could present a new budget at their next regular meeting scheduled for Wednesday evening. A vote later that evening will decide the Court Clerk’s salary issue and the fate of the Cairo Police Department.

“I just hope the Town Board does the right thing for the Town,” Cairo Police Sgt. Dan Braden said.