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Village tax rate
down a quarter percent The Village of Caledonia adopted the 2007-2008 budget at the April 10, 2007 board meeting. The $1,247,027 budget reflects a $122,328 increase over the previous year’s plan however, with an expected revenue increase for the upcoming year of $156,504, the village board was able to lower the tax rate to $9.56 per thousand of assessed value, down nearly a quarter percent from last year. The 2007-2008 budget goes into effect June 1, 2007. The increased revenue comes from the recent property reassessment which netted the village an additional $113,718 in taxes. The village will also receive $49,600 in CHIPS state highway aid for work related to the State Street water line project. The budget adds $45,000 to an equipment reserve fund, the purchase of a new police car and a 4.5 percent employee salary increases, Mayor Joe Caluorie said. The DPW has been given the go ahead to purchase a much needed back hoe that was removed from their budget two years ago. This year’s budget will include sidewalk repair and water line work, as well. The village also plans to replace a vacant position in the police department by hiring one full time police officer, bringing the department to three full time and two part time officers. David Richardson serves as the sergeant in charge. Caluorie said the village is in good financial condition with all reserves at the recommended levels. "The budget is a very intense process and with three new board members, we relied heavily on the village clerk for guidance. The bottom line is the village is in the black, not the red," the mayor explained. The $353,465 2007-2008 water budget reflects an $83,464 increase over last year though the rates will remain unchanged at $2.25 per thousand gallons for village residents, $4.00 per thousand gallons for water district customers and a flat $20 per quarter charge for all customers. The village plans to hire professional contractors to paint the Graney Road water tower in the upcoming year, which accounts for the majority of the water budget increase. Annual organizational meeting action The Village of Caledonia Board of Trustees met for the annual organizational meeting on April 2, 2007. Mayor Joe Caluorie, Deputy-Mayor Teresa Truman, Trustees Steve Boscoe, Diane Fowler and Steve Polo were all present. The annual organizational meeting signals the end of the village’s business year and the start of a new one. Its purpose is to approve several annual appointments and designations, to review village policies and to set the board meeting dates for the upcoming year. The village board approved Mayor’s Caluorie’s annual appointments as follows: Deputy-Mayor - Teresa Truman,
Tax Collector and Clerk Treasurer - Ann Marie Grattan, Deputy-Clerk
Treasurer - Nora Brunette, Village Attorney - Jim Coniglio, Court Clerk
- Barb Keenan, Police Officer-in-Charge - David Richardson, Code
Enforcement Officer - Tom Perkins, Bingo Inspector - Tom Perkins,
Crossing Guard - Val Kay, Recreation Chairperson - Betty McClenney,
Recreation The mayor announced his appointments for the next year. The trustees unanimously approved of the following: Court Liaison - Teresa Truman, County Planning Board - Steve Polo, Police Liaison - Steve Polo, Town Board Liaison - Steve Boscoe, Board of Appeals Liaison - Steve Boscoe, Planning Board Liaison - Steve Boscoe, Recreation Liaison - Steve Polo, MacKay Park Liaison - Steve Boscoe, DPW Liaison - Joe Caluorie, Sign Vouchers - Teresa Truman, Fire Commissioners Liaison - Diane Fowler. The trustees unanimously approved the designation of the Livingston County News as the official newspaper of the Village of Caledonia. All required legal notices will be published in that weekly newspaper. The Bank of Castile and Five Star Bank were designated as official depositories for the village. The board approved a year-long schedule of monthly meeting dates and times which will be the first Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. and the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. The board will meet briefly on May 31, 2007, 4 p.m. to close the books on the 2006-07 fiscal year. The board will meet only once per month on July 3 and August 7, 2007, both meetings at 4 p.m. The board approved several policies and made addition to the employee handbook before approving it, as well. The addition reflects a 25 cent per hour increase paid to DPW workers who hold a Class D water license and a 50 cent per hour increase to DPW workers who are named foreman. In other routine business, the village clerk reported that general and water revenues for the month of March were up and expenses were down . Water and Street Foreman Chris Buckley reported that the height of the water in well no. one is at 10.8 feet, a little more than a foot higher than last year at this time. There was no police department report at this meeting. The board approved St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church’s request to hold their annual hotdog sale as a fundraiser in Hamilton Park on Memorial Day. The board approved the resignation of the village planning board and zoning board of appeals secretary. The village will post one vacancy to fill both positions as well as two open summer positions with the DPW.
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