Granville Village Board agrees to $20-per-household water and sewer rent increases, preserves tax-cap compliance

The Granville Village Board on Feb. 26 agreed to raise water and sewer rents by $20 per household and to keep the General Fund budget within the tax cap, directing Clerk-Treasurer Richard H. Roberts to update and recirculate the working copy of the budget.

Roberts, acting as the Budget Officer, told trustees the General Fund would likely require $27,000–$29,000 from fund balance (reserves) to remain tax-cap compliant. He said the Water Fund would need about $16,000 of fund balance at the recommended $15-per-household increase, while the Sewer Fund was presented as balanced based on a previously discussed $10-per-household rent increase. Roberts told the board that rising health insurance and retirement costs, together with higher power and utility bills, were the primary drivers of the increases.

The decision followed an extended discussion in which Deputy Mayor Dean Hyatt outlined needs across the Water and Sewer funds, the fire department, the library and the Department of Public Works. Trustee Heather Leaman said a meeting between the Library Board, the mayor and herself as liaison would be useful "in order to clarify certain roles and/or eliminate 'gray areas.'" Trustee Paul Garrone requested additional prior budget information to aid longer-term projections. Trustee Denise Davies said many residents were feeling "a pinch" after neighboring jurisdictions exceeded their tax caps.

As a compromise to address operational needs while limiting levy growth, the board agreed to raise both water and sewer rents by $20 per household and to keep the General Fund levy increase at 3.29% (described in the workshop as a 2.77% tax increase). The board also discussed the option of transferring funds between the Sewer and Water accounts to cover operations if necessary. Mayor Paul Labas asked how the board wanted to proceed and the trustees unanimously agreed to the compromise; he then directed the Budget Officer to implement the requested changes and recirculate the revised working budget.

There was one recorded formal motion at the close of the workshop: Trustee Heather Leaman moved to adjourn at 8:10 p.m.; Trustee Denise Davies seconded the motion, and it carried without objection.

The Budget Officer is expected to distribute the updated working copy of the budget to trustees for review.