Yates County budget hearing is Nov. 18

YATES COUNTY--Yates County Administrator and Treasurer Nonie Flynn has presented a proposed 2022 budget with a tax levy of $16,519,672 resulting in a tax rate decrease of $0.39 per thousand of assessed value. Despite issues created by the COVID pandemic that have affected the region for well over a year, Flynn said this year's budgetary process went smoothly.
"We schedule a day and a half for our workshop each year and we were able to wrap up well before the first day was over," Flynn said.
The tax rate is set to decrease from $5.8916 per thousand of assessed value to $5.5025, a 6.6 percent reduction.
The proposed budget for 2022 includes $45,608,082 in expenditures, an increase of $2,705,649 or 6.31 percent compared to the 2021 budget of $42,902,433. The increase in proposed spending also includes an increase in revenue. The proposed revenue for 2022 is placed at $29,088,410, an increase of $3,179,882 or 12.27 percent.
Throughout the region, the feared impacts of the COVID pandemic on county finances have not been as extreme as many feared due to the strong boost in local tourism from those more hesitant to drive or fly long distances combined with strong interest from remote employees to relocate from cities such as New York and Philadelphia to places with more space and outdoor activities.
According to Flynn, ever since she became budgetary officer in 2016 the tax levy has only increased from $16,023,444 to the proposed $16,519,672 for this year, making it the same amount for three consecutive years.
The proposed budget takes into account increases in costs regarding personal services and more but there are decreases in the budget in line items as well when compared to the previous year.
Equipment costs coming from the general fund are expected to decrease 13.5 percent from $642,600 in 2021 to $555,628 in 2022.
With the local real estate market booming, the taxable valuation of the county itself increased from $2,725,116,087 to $2,961,565,596 for a $236,449,509 increase representing an 8.7 percent increase.
Going forward before the legislature is able to approve the proposed budget a public hearing must be held and will occur on Thursday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m.
For both legislature and members of the public, Flynn said she would be doing a slide show presentation breaking down exactly what is inside the budget.
"(Then) the legislature will discuss the budget and hopefully vote on passing it," said Flynn.