WAWARSING – The town's 2017 preliminary budget, for a grand total currently at $9,021,610.04 minus fire and ambulance, is near completion and expected to be approved after a scheduled 6 p.m. public hearing on November 3 in the town hall court room. But getting to this point, councilmen agreed during their October 20 town board meeting, took effort and cooperation.

After commending fellow councilmen on their continued work on a spending plan, councilman Mike Durso added, "It just shows that we can work together when we have all the facts. We can sit down, we don't have to agree but we get the job done."

The preliminary budget will come in under the state mandated tax cap of 0.68 percent for tax levy increases, which municipalities can choose to exceed via a sixty percent or more majority vote.

"I think we're in the neighborhood of decreasing overall taxes by $25,000 to $30,000," noted councilmember Dan Johnson. "With all the increases we face — health insurance, labor contracts, and the retirement system — I think we got through it and did very well."

Durso added that the town's unexpended fund balance is doing okay, too, although town supervisor Leonard Distel said he was unsure how long that would last.

"Sixty percent of the towns in Ulster County are going to have to override the tax cap," he said, noting how other municipalities' unexpended fund balances are running dry.

"It's a very dangerous situation developing. And of course, they have to raise taxes, which is one thing we try not to do," Distel said. "We are very fortunate that we have a healthy unexpended fund balance but if you continue to use the unexpended fund balance, then there's only a couple of choices left — you have to either cut services, lay off people or raise taxes. I don't think anyone can afford a raise in taxes."

Like the budget, various town water and sewer projects are seeing similar progress, councilman Stephen Bradley said.

"The Kerhonkson water project is moving along very nicely. Both water tanks are brand new and operating at full capacity. The water meters are being installed at an average rate of seven to eight a day and is moving along very well," he explained. "Currently we got a $4.2 million water project progressing in Kerhonkson and a $750,000 sewer project in Napanoch, so the guys are very busy at the present time."

In other news, councilmen discussed the need for sidewalks along ShopRite Boulevard, but added that the installation could be complicated with three entities involved. Additionally, the board tabled a proposed local law amending a local law regarding license fees and terms for "peddlers and solicitors." Residents Tom Moza and Victor Markowitz questioned Distel's role in authoring the amendment, calling it a conflict of interest. The board agreed to table it, under the recommendation of zoning committee member and zoning board of appeals chairman Paul McAndrews who said the zoning committee will be reviewing the local law in the spring.

Petitioning the board, residents Kim Candela and Mike Wendel requested the use of the town hall court room for a possible November informational meeting regarding potential ground contaminates in the area. They did not get the okay. The board tried to push the two off to the village, but Wendel said that would not be okay for other reasons and Distel replied that he would talk to legal counsel to see about providing the space after hours.