Orangetown Finance Director Gives Report

The Orangetown Town Board will soon begin the process of planning the 2012 budget, with the budget calendar set to be on the agenda for next week's regular meeting.

Orangetown Director of Finance Charlie Richardson took the opportunity to update the town board regarding spending and revenues so far in 2011.

Richardson pointed to snow removal and fuel costs as areas of concern among the town's expenses for the year and mortgage taxes and golf courses as places where revenues are coming up short so far.

"I thought we should talk about where we are right now," Richardson said. "Right now the situation is decidedly mixed. The area we are most likely to overspend on is snow removal. We did spend about $1.1 million early in the year, about 90 percent of the highway budget for snow removal."

One thing that will help offset the expenses incurred during a winter of heavy snowfall is the decision by FEMA to declare the snow of Dec. 26 a disaster, which means the town will receive money from FEMA, approximately $180,000 of which will go to the Highway Department.

Snow also had an impact on the Orangetown Housing Authority, which has already exceeded its $40,000 budget by $9,000 due to removal costs.

Richardson also expects the town to go $270,000 over budget for gasoline and diesel fuel.

He also projected coming in $200,000 under budget for health insurance costs.

Richardson said that the largest concern among reenues is mortgage taxes.

"I expect a shortfall of $175,000 for the General Fund," Richardson said.

Golf revenues are well behind last year due to weather and the lack of a restaurant at Blue Hill Golf Course during part of the spring before the contract was awarded to Emmett Woods.

"Blue Hill revenues are down nearly $120,000 below this time last year," Richardson said. "Broadacres revenues are down roughly $60,000 below last year at this time. We are also down $45,000 from last year on rental income from not having a restaurant."

According to a report from the Orangetown Office of Parks and Recreation July 11, Blue Hill Golf Course brought in $954,688 to this time in 2010, which is down to $836,412 so far in 2011. Broadacres is down to $218,829 so far this year from $280,462 at this point in 2010.

Richardson said that there is likely to be a $200,000 surplus in the Police Fund.

Orangetown Police Discipline

The Orangetown Town board voted to approve a resolution settling a disciplinary matter involving six members of the Orangetown Police Department. The names of the officers involved were not released.

Scott Burton

The town board adjourned Tuesday's workshop in honor of Scott Burton, the town's Environmental Management and Engineering Director who passed away suddenly at the age of 42 July 10.

Calling hours for Burton will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Wyman-Fisher Funeral Home in Pearl River.The funeral mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at St. Aedan's Church in Pearl River. Burton will be buried at St. Anthony's Cemetary in Nanuet.

In place of flowers, the family is setting up a college fund for Burton's children. Checks can be made out to JoAnn Neugebauer and mailed to Burton, P.O. Box 403, Orangeburg, NY 10962.