Wellsville Council Finance Committee

Tuesday - April 27: The Finance Committee met Tuesday afternoon at Village Hall to discuss three levies. Present at the meeting was Committee Chairman Tony Cataldo, Members Joe Soldano & Randy Allmon. Also present was Mayor Joe Surace, Fiscal Officer Dale Davis and Council Member Sue Haugh.

There are three levies that will expire at the end of the year. Although they are scheduled to expire 12/31/10 they will still be collected through 2011. The difference in time between expiration and them no longer being collected gives Village officials time to get either renewal or replacement levies passed by the voters.

A renewal levy is one that is put on the ballot at the same rate that they are currently being collected. If the ballot was passed in 2005 as a new one, the rate is set at the 2005 real estate appraisal values. Those rates will not go up unless it is called a replacement levy. In that case the rate collected will be based on current real estate appraisal levels and the amount it cost the taxpayers will be slightly higher.

The three levies that were being looked at is a 1-mill General Fund operating levy for current expenses, a 1-mill Fire Dept. levy and a 6-mill Fire Dept. levy. The General Fund levy brings in approximately $25,000 per year and the two Fire levies combined brings in around $153,500 a year.

Fiscal Officer Davis stated that the earliest any of these levies can be put on the ballot is the November General Election. The Village then has four more chances to put them on in subsequent elections if they are voted down in November. After five tries if the levy is put before the voters once again it will automatically be a replacement levy at the higher rate. Village officials have until August 5, to pass a resolution or ordinance requesting a County Auditor's certificate authorizing the levies be put on the ballot.

General consensus of all three Committee members was to ask for renewal for the 1-mill General Fund levy. Most of the discussion at Tuesday's meeting centered on the two Fire levies. Cataldo advised that the exit audit for the recent State inspection is expected to take place in another couple of weeks. At that time more concise figures on what those levies bring in will be available.

The full time Fire Dept. currently consists of two people - the Chief and one fire fighter. Cataldo said there is no money to replace the third fireman as promised in March. Soldano remarked that for the third year now the Village doesn't have an extra $25,000 in the General Fund to transfer to the Fire Dept., as had been done in the past. Staffing for the WFD actually calls for four full time fire fighters.

A full time fire fighter starts out at $18,000 per year and with their benefit package that figure jumps to around $30,000. For two firemen that would be $60,000. Staffing shortages are being filled in with paid volunteers. The lower per hour rate, no insurance benefits and lower pension contributions is a cost savings to the Village keeping the Fire Dept. in the black. The Mayor remarked there is no over time in that department.

All three Committee members agreed to hold off for another meeting after the State exit audit, when there would be more exact figures to work with, before making a decision whether to recommend the levies be put on the ballot as renewals or replacements. Soldano remarked that it is tough to keep asking for more but felt the fire levies may have to be put on the ballot as replacements. McMahon suggested they put it before the public to see what they have to say. Soldano agreed saying times are tough. Lets see what the folks want. They will hold off making any recommendations to Council until it is decided what to do with all three levies.

The Village is still waiting to hear on two grants applied for the Fire Dept. Grant Source Professionals, the Village grant writer, advises they are 90% sure the $130,000 remodeling grant will be awarded. They advise they have had no word on the COPS type grant for additional personnel.

In other areas Cataldo asked about the possibility of charging tipping fees. The Fiscal Officer advised if it is considered it would have to apply to every company making deliveries in the Village from milk and bread distributors on down the line. It can not be applied to just one or two companies in town.

Cataldo advised he and Haugh would be meeting with the forester on Wednesday. The area around the old dump will be surveyed for trees 16" in diameter and larger to see if there is enough for harvesting. Wellsville got out of fiscal emergency a few years ago by selling lumber with trees harvested at the reservoir.

Estimates for all Values & Yields for 2009 Wellsville real estate is $27.3 million.


With the Primary Election being held next Tuesday the regular Council meeting is moved to Wedneday evening, May 5. The meeting will be held at Village Hall at 6 P.M.

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