BY Molly Congdon
Gazette Reporter
HALFMOON—The last time the town of Halfmoon imposed a highway tax was back in 1985. Now, 31 years later, it may be incorporated into the 2016 highway budget.
The tentative highway budget appropriations have increased from last year, totaling $3,096,172.
“We had had it set up for 88 cents per thousand to raise like 1.2 million to put into highways specifically for equipment and road maintenance and then we were notified that the state is in the middle of a three-year property tax freeze rebate check,” Pingelski said. “Supposedly last year we got like $50. This year residents are supposed to get like $200 and in 2016 when our tax would’ve went into effect, residents are supposed to be getting like a $350 check. Now if we had implemented the 88 cents and collected the 1.2 million, it would’ve exceeded the two percent tax cap. So by exceeding that two percent tax cap, the residents would not have gotten that $350.”
There were 7 public workshops, which allowed residents to ask questions and discuss the highway budget. “We didn’t want it to look like we were pulling the wool over someone’s eyes and trying to sneak something in the back door,” Pingelski said. “We did an amazing powerpoint presentation that explained all the reasons why we need it and, of course, people don’t want the tax but they understood that we needed it and it kind of went pretty well.”
Pingelski and the town of Halfmoon have a 20 year paving plan. “We have roughly 115 miles of road, that’s center-lane miles. That’s when you’re driving down the road, that’s the yellow line—that’s both lanes,” Pingelski said. “It costs roughly 125,000 to pave one center lane mile. We have 115 miles and if we were expecting to get 20 years out of a road, which is a stretch, we would have to pave 5.75 miles of road a year. So multiplying the 125,000 it costs to do that times 5.75, for paving alone we would have to generate $718,750.”
He continued: “If we’re expecting a road to last 20 years, we need to do almost 6 miles a year, and at 125 it comes out to about $718,750.”
Keeping roads paved is important. “We try to do as much paving as we can because, like anything else, even around the house, the longer you let things go, the more it’s going to cost because of increases every year. If you want to swap out your windows and you can’t afford it this year, next year it’s going to cost even more. So trying to stay on top of the roads is one thing.”
He continued: “And the other thing is just keeping our equipment outdated. One plow truck alone outfitted with the snow equipment… is like $230,000. Halfmoon has been growing like crazy so all the roads and developments and stuff I’ve been maintaining with no increase; they’re really not paying like a highway tax for me to maintain the roads. So we’ve been adding roads with the same, now even a lesser budget.”
There will be a public hearing on Wednesday, October 7 to discuss the tentative 2016 budget.
Highway budget appropriations:
2015 2,742,772
2014 2,889,472
2013 2,973,178
2012 3,040,583
2011 2,919,782
2010 2,784,694
2009 2,765,270
2008 2,434,490
2007 2,329,259
2006 2,242,045
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