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Fredonia trustees present tentative 2025–26 budget; resident presses board for details on $825,000 borrowing
Summary
Trustees presented a proposed 2025–26 budget that would raise the village tax rate and water/sewer rates; a resident questioned a January revenue anticipation note and asked for detailed disclosure on the loan’s terms and fiscal impact.
FREDONIA, N.Y. — Village officials presented a proposed 2025–26 budget at the April 14 regular meeting that includes a higher tax rate and increases to water and sewer charges, and a resident asked the board to disclose details about an $825,000 revenue anticipation note adopted earlier this year.
The treasurer reported total projected revenue across village funds of $13,109,011 and described proposed changes to the village tax and utility rates. The treasurer told trustees the proposed tax rate would be $61.09 per $1,000 of assessed value — an increase of $24.14 — which the treasurer said would raise the average household tax bill by about $540. The treasurer also reported planned water and sewer rate increases: base water billing would remain $30 per quarter, and the sewer base rate would increase by $5 to $30 per quarter; per-1,000-gallon rates were presented in the treasurer’s report and will be part of the formal budget documents submitted to the public for the upcoming hearings.
During public comment, Sam Sandrio (identified at the meeting as a resident) urged the board to provide written disclosures about a revenue anticipation note (RAN) that he said the board adopted on Jan. 30 for $825,000. Sandrio asked who purchased the note, when it is due, what interest rate applies, which revenues will repay it and what effect the borrowing will have on the tax rate. He also called for attaching the abstracts of bills to the board minutes to improve transparency. The board did not produce those loan details during the meeting; trustees invited residents to submit questions in writing so staff could distribute answers.
Another resident, James Linden, urged the board to preserve local autonomy and raised broader concerns about consolidation of services and long-term fiscal stability.
The board announced two public hearings for Wednesday: one at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the proposed budget and a separate hearing at 6:30 p.m. on a tax-cap override. Those hearings are the next formal opportunities for the public to review budget details and ask about the RAN or other fiscal items.
Ending: Trustees scheduled follow-up discussion and public hearings; residents concerned about the RAN requested written answers and financial backup, and the board directed staff to provide materials ahead of the public hearings.
