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Cairo board approves CHIPS increase and budget transfers; preliminary 2025 budget hearings continue
Summary
At its Oct. 16 meeting the Town of Cairo board approved three resolutions amending the 2024 budget — including a $292,954.02 increase for CHIPS highway aid — and authorized a 2025 rental agreement for the Acra Community Center. The board opened but left the 2025 preliminary budget and a tax-override hearing open for Nov. 4, 2024.
Cairo’s Town Board on Oct. 16 approved a set of budget adjustments and authorized a rental agreement while leaving two public hearings on the 2025 preliminary budget and a possible tax-levy override open for continued consideration on Nov. 4.
The board adopted Resolution No. 2024-202 to record an increased Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) reimbursement. The resolution amends expense line DA-5112-205 and revenue line DA-3501 to reflect an increase of $292,954.02 in the Highway Fund. Council Member Bogins offered the resolution and Council Member Flaherty seconded; the vote was recorded as Bogins Aye, Flaherty Aye, Murphy Aye; Supervisor Watts and Council Member Cords were absent.
The board also approved Resolution No. 2024-203 to correct negative balances in several 2024 expenditure accounts by transferring funds from contingency or unappropriated fund balances into specified lines. The resolution lists multiple transfers (for example, $39,259 from unappropriated funds to water source-of-supply contingency and $51,480 for sanitary sewers contractual). The measure passed with the same recorded votes.
Separately, under Resolution No. 2024-204 the board authorized the town supervisor to sign a 2025 rental agreement with the Greene County Department of Human Services for use of the Acra Community Center. That resolution was offered by Council Member Bogins, seconded by Council Member Flaherty, and passed with Bogins, Flaherty and Murphy voting Aye.
During a public hearing on the 2025 preliminary budget, a resident identified as Earl asked why the EMS budget "has doubled." The Town Board responded that the EMS line had not doubled and that it had increased by about $74,000. The board said Cairo Ambulance may assist other departments when available but its primary responsibility is Cairo residents. Earl also asked for a breakdown of the library’s $220,000 allocation; Mark Goelick said "the $220,000 is under the Library contractual line in the budget and the Library is under the Direct Supervision of New York State," noting that state supervision affects some library accounting and operations. The board reported the preliminary budget’s overall increase at $12,979 and told attendees that the town is receiving $2.7 million from the state, with county support, for development of a Senior Center. The public hearing on the preliminary budget closed at 7:16 p.m.; final approval is scheduled for the Nov. 4 meeting.
The board opened a separate public hearing on an override of the tax levy limit at 7:17 p.m., describing the action as a precaution (it has been used in prior years but not last year). That hearing was left open to continue at the next meeting. A public hearing to amend zoning laws (Sect. VI.-A-5) was rescheduled for Nov. 4 and will be advertised Oct. 25.
Routine monthly reports were presented (not discussed) showing ambulance activity (84 calls in September, 60 transported), assessor activity, animal-control calls, building permits and zoning inquiries.
The meeting adjourned at 7:22 p.m. with the same three board members present voting Aye on the final motions. Minutes were submitted by Town Clerk Kayla L. McAlister.
