Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Property Tax Summary for Village of Saugerties Property Owners - 2007 to 2017

Tax Bill
$200,000 assessment

2007 Bill

2017 Bill
$ Increase
% Increase
Ave. Increase

CPI**
Town A
$500*
$802
$302
60.3%
6.0%
1.67%
Village
$1,478
$1,272
-$206
-13.9%
-1.4%
1.67%
Ambulance
$51
$82
$31
60.9%
6.1%
1.67%
Library
$38
$113
$75
197.9%
19.8%
1.67%
County
$752
$871
$120
15.9%
1.6%
1.67%
School
$2,267
$3,429
$1,162
51.3%
5.1%
1.67%
TOTAL
$5,085
$6,569
$1,483
29.2%
2.9%
1.67%
*Estimate
**CPI is the average rate of inflation from 2007-2016.

The average Village homeowner is paying $1,483 more in taxes compared to ten years ago.

NOTE - Highway & Fire Prevention services are included in the Village budget.  The Police Merger occurred in 2011 & Village residents are billed from the town wide General Fund. 

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

How Much Have Saugerties Property Taxes Gone Up in the Last Decade?

Town & County property tax bills will be hitting Saugerties mailboxes soon & below is a table and charts showing town wide property taxes in 2017 as compared to 2007.

The table shows how much property taxes a typical Saugerties homeowner  outside the Village ($200,000 assessment) paid in 2007 and 2017.  Village taxes and special districts are excluded - except for the Library & Diaz Ambulance which are assessed town wide.  The average annual rate of inflation from 2007 to 2016 is 1.67%.  

The average Saugerties property owner (outside of Village) is paying $1,763 more in town wide taxes since 2007.

Non-Village Resident
Tax Bill
2007 Tax Bill
2017 Tax Bill
$ Increase
% Increase
Ave. Increase
CPI**
Town A&B
$531.26
$838.27
$307.00
57.8%
5.8%
1.67%
Highway
$344.29
$412.66
$68.37
19.9%
2.0%
1.67%
Ambulance
$50.78
$81.68
$30.90
60.8%
6.1%
1.67%
Library
$38.04
$113.31
$75.28
197.9%
19.8%
1.67%
County
$751.83
$871.33
$119.50
15.9%
1.6%
1.67%
School
$2,266.68
$3,428.53
$1,161.85
51.3%
5.1%
1.67%
TOTAL
$3,983
$5,745.78
$1,762.89
44.3%
4.4%
1.67%
* Note - The 2017 Library totals include a charge of $53.31 for the New Library Bond.
**CPI is the average rate of inflation from 2007-2016.


The charts show the percentage breakdown of the total town wide property taxes paid by category.














Friday, November 18, 2016

Summary of 2017 Saugerties Town Budget


Image result for up arrow budget

The Town of Saugerties adopted the 2017 budget, which exceeds the State tax cap, by a 4-1 vote.  The budget will increase property taxes for village residents by 4.6% and by 3.5% for town residents.  Property taxes for the General Fund, controlled by the Town Board, will increase by 4%. 

The most controversial changes were 10% cuts to the Boys & Girls Club & Historical Society. Town officials said funding to these groups may be phased-out over a 10-year period. 

SUMMER REC PROGRAM FACING EXTINCTION

The Board added $33,500 to the revenue line for the Summer Recreation Program to eliminate an expected deficit.  This program has been losing money for several years.  Town officials said the program may be cut by the Board in 2017 if the deficit cannot be offset by new, non-property tax revenues.  Or, the Board can decide next year to keep the program & absorb the loss - which would be a back door tax increase. 

The Board made adjustments to the tentative budget which had a total budget impact of $115,800 - $80,000 of which came from positive adjustment of retirement expenses.  The Board offset Police spending by $50,000 to account for an increase in employee benefits.  

Budget highlights include (Note -Saugerties residents will pay different tax amounts depending on the special taxing districts where they live):

  • Police - Spending up 3.1%, Police Payroll up 4.3%
  • Diaz Ambulance - property taxes up 19%.  Diaz is a separate taxing district but counts against the tax cap.  Town officials attribute increase to decrease in Obamacare reimbursements.
  • Parks - Spending down 1.6%, Town Board did not fill vacancies
  • Building & Grounds - Spending Up 1.7%
  • Highway - Property Taxes up 1.3%
  • Health Insurance - Spending Up 28.7%
  • Transfer Station - Spending down 9.6%

To view the 2017 budget, click here.