Vestal Hopes to Whittle Down Tax Hike

10/2/2012 (Updated 7:48:21 PM)

Municipalities in Broome County are facing a difficult budget year and the town of Vestal is no exception.

The proposed 2013 budget currently calls for a 9.3 percent tax hike and a 560-thousand dollar deficit. 

Vestal Town Supervisor John Schaffer says they're doing everything possible to get that percentage down below the 2-percent tax cap. 

Schaffer says the town wouldn't be in such a huge financial pinch if County Executive Debbie Preston would have restored the 50-50 shared sales tax revenue-- which would stop shorting Vestal more than 600- thousand dollars.

"If I had that money alone, I would have a zero increase in tax and to all my constituents," said Schaffer.  "But, seeing there's no money coming in, we have to trim everything. Being at the bottom of the ladder, we're doing the best we can."

Schaffer says his board has been working very hard to find savings and make cuts without lay-offs by the November 20th deadline.

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