Council reduces budget> School figures a critical factor

DEXTER — During budget deliberations over the past several weeks, the Dexter Town Council has trimmed almost $65,000 from the initial municipal budget proposal of $3 million.

Town Manager Steve Whitesel said the cuts were accomplished by trimming several accounts, including: $3,300 from the sidewalk account; $700 less to provider agencies; $50,000 less in cemetery appropriations; $2,500 from the general administration account; $1,800 less for the clock repair account; and $6,387 from salaries, including a voluntary decline by Whitesel to accept a salary increase next year.

Despite the cuts, Whitesel said, a tax increase will be needed next year to offset a decline in municipal revenue and the increased county and utility costs.

The $52,000 increase in the budget is a result of a $47,000 increase in water, sewer and fire hydrant rental fees with the Dexter Utility District and an $8,200 increase in county taxes, he said.

Revenue also will decrease next year by 9 percent, or about $110,000, as a result of an adjustment in the amount the state owes the town for landfill closing costs, Whitesel said.

The total loss in projected revenue is $85,000.

With the recent $65,000 in reductions, town officials estimate that the tax rate will need to be increased to balance the budget.

If voters approve the $667,000 in local option money sought by SAD 46, the tax increase would be about $4 per $1,000 worth of valuation, with the school request accounting for a little more than $3 of that increase.

A person with a $50,000 home would pay about $200 more in property taxes next year. The current tax rate in Dexter is $15.70 per $1,000 of valuation.

A final budget figure for the coming year will be decided after the vote on the school budget, Whitesel said.