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Enfield council member warns of large fire‑district levy and use of reserves to hold down town taxes
Summary
Bob Lynch of Enfield told the Tompkins County Legislature his town reduced a proposed 8.85% levy to about 5.2–5.4% by using $125,000 from fund balance and cautioned council will consider fire district bond principal ($86,000) and interest ($39,008.80) that together add about $126,576 to next year's budget.
Bob Lynch, a Town of Enfield council member, briefed the Tompkins County Legislature on his town's budget pressures and mitigation steps. Lynch said his board trimmed an initial tentative levy increase of 8.85% to roughly 5.2–5.4% by tapping $125,000 of unrestricted fund balance, which will reduce the town's projected general‑fund balance; he asked the county to be mindful of the limits small towns face when absorbing rising costs such as health insurance and retirement contributions.
Lynch also described a separate and steeper fire‑district increase of about 28.28% driven by debt service on a recently purchased fire truck — principal of $86,000 and interest of $39,008.80, for a total added cost of $126,576. He said the board will hold a public hearing on Oct. 15 for the fire commissioners, and that town officials are reviewing the SPCA contract renewal and tree‑pruning practices.
