During a special meeting Friday night, the Wellsville Town Board voted 5-0 to adopt the 2020 budget. No members of the public attended a public hearing on the spending plan. Town Supervisor Shad Alsworth noted several challenges that impacted the budget. He laid much of the blame on the former Assessor and staff. Their actions, Alsworth said, resulted in the town's equalization rate being lowered from 99% to 89%. Another issue that complicated matters was the Grievance Board, which lowered the assessment on the former Kmart building from $3.4 million to $1 million. Employee costs and health insurance increases also contributed to the budget increases.
For the first time in more than 15 years, the town will also eliminate positions. The Board agreed to axe a payroll clerk position at the airport as well as a union position at the Highway Department. The Department currently has six employees and a secretary. Highway Superintendent Dean Arnold said he was "strongly opposed" to the layoff in his department. He added, though, that he would continue to work with the Board. Deputy Supervisor Michael Miller noted that "Arnold is a progressive highway guy...he knows what he is doing."
The new budget includes a tax increase of 4%. The Supervisor said "nobody around this table is happy about that." He said if town values don't increase "services eventually will start to diminish." The newly adopted budget also requires all non-union town employees to contribute more for their health insurance.
