Island Dispatch, 1989-11-24

              ISLAND DISPATCH V:, The GRAND ISLAND NEWS GRAND ISLAND. NY • 773-7676 VOL. 46 NO. 37 • Nov. 24,1989 24 PAGES 35« Photo by Jemes salover  Weather THE OLD Farmer's Almanac says: Nov. 25: clear and mild. Nov. 26-29: cold snap, snow. Nov. 28-29: sunny, milder. Town Budget WHO, WHY and what for were questions asked prior to the 1990 preliminary town budget being approved in a 3-2 vote at Monday's town board meeting. Questioned by Republican Councilman Robert G. Swan were changes in the spending plan apparently made after the November 7 th election. Claiming he had just been made aware of adjustments, Swan said "I would like to know what they are and by whom they were made." Naming Councilwoman Marion P. Fabiano and Councilman Daniel A. Linenfelser, both Democrats, as board members he had consulted, Supervisor Martin T. Prast said the salary schedule had been adjusted "to maintain the tax rate" and resulted in the general fund tax rate increase being reduced from 6 to 5 cents, or from 80 to 79 cents per $1000 of real assessed valuation. It was the retraction of a 5% increase in the Supervisor's 1990 salary that raised Swan's ire. He noted $18,000 for service equipment had also been deleted from the supervisor's budget. This he said later, apparently was originally placed in the budget prior to election to purchase a car for the supervisor. Prast lost his bid for a second term to LaVerne C. Luther who in January will return to the office he held for eight years prior to his defeat in 1987. Swan and Councilman James H. Pax voted against the budget as well as a move to abolish a receptionist's position which Prast said would be filled by a senior aid. "I will move in January that the position be reinstated," Swan said. At the conclusion of the meeting, Luther expressed disgust with having the 5% increase in the supervisor's salary withdrawn, claiming it was "unjust, unfair and sour grapes." He said he would investigate the legality of the move. Increases are still in the budget for councilmen, town clerk and highway superintendent, 8% as well as a 13% raise for the tax collector. Last minute changes in the budget reductions as well as increases, are noted elsewhere in this issue. MEK Changes Noted In Approved Budget THE 1990 preliminary town budget approved 3-2 by the town board Monday does not iclude a number of items that were included in the supervisor's budget when the spending plan was aired at a public hearing November 9, such as personal services $15,493, equipment $18,000, contracture! service $900 and unclassified other items $500. Also removed from the genera] budget, according to a list in the town hall, were $4000 for personal service, and $1750 for law service while additions to the approved budget include $6500 for maintenance of equipment, $3852 for public safety, and $8000 for transportationtransportation and pedestrian use. Other amounts added to the budget after the hearing were $5000 for recreation, $1000 for home and community service and $500 for planning expenses. Lowered by $5000 was the public relations and Grand Island economic development budget. Also listed as increases were $400 for travel expenses, $350 for architectural board of review, $4000 for refuse contractural service, $5000 for community beautification, $500 for conservation committee travel expense and $500 for the committee's training and education. MEK o pi ■I ■