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The Syracuse Town Council worked Tuesday to figure out the budget cuts the state is requiring it to make for next year.
The 1999 budget was over the maximum levy. The state mandated that the council cut approximately $37,449 to meet the levy.
The state suggested that the council cut the general fund from $39,000 to $28,355, the street fund from $24,000 to $11,274, and the park fund from $31,000 to $16,922.
In addition, the tax rate of $0.05 for the cumulative park and recreation fund was not approved. The State Board of Tax Commissioners reduced the rate to $0.04. The board said the town would have to pass a new ordinance and re-advertise to increase the rate to $0.05.
Robert Reed, council attorney, said, "I don't agree with them. I think they are wrong."
Councilman William Cutter said he could not figure out how the tax board arrived at those figures.
"Where'd they get those figures? Did they suck those numbers out of their thumb?" Cutter said.
The cuts in the various funds gave the council a total of $56,551 to distribute among all three.
Councilman Carol Koble said she would have liked to have known what to expect ahead of time.
"It would have been beneficial to have this information ahead of time," Koble said.
Reed asked, "How do they expect you to give much meaning to it when you got to guess so far down the road?"
After a two-hour discussion, the council decided to approve the budget with an amendment that slightly changed the three funds the state suggested cutting.
The council decided on $25,000 for the general fund, $16,500 for the street fund and $15,000 for the park fund. The proposed tax rate will be $2.8116. The present tax rate is $2.7646.
Reed said, "If you don't like it in the next year, say so and we'll transfer it from one appropriation to another."
Town Manager Matt Vigneault said, "Be ready for the siren song that's going to be sung about the fund that isn't there."
