On Monday, the Broome County Legislature will vote on proposed changes to county exec Barb Fiala's budget.
The finance committee has been sifting through her budget.
And, believes some figures in the budget are over-estimated.
For instance, the committee voted to lower sales tax projections to just a 2 percent growth instead of five in this tough economy.
Interest earnings have also been lowered.
If other cuts aren't made or money isn't found elsewhere in the budget, the proposed 4 percent tax increase could go up.
But, we won't find that out until next week.
About a five percent tax increase.
That's what the Town of Vestal's tax increase is down to for next year.
And, Supervisor Pete Andreasen is hopeful it will end below five percent.
The challenge - more people out of work plus less people spending money equals a significant decrease in the amount of sales tax revenue Vestal will likely get next year.
It's projecting losing about 600-thousand dollars in sales tax money.
Add in loss of revenue in other areas and having to pay more for pension and health insurance and originally the tax increase was about four times what it is now.
Andreasen says, "These are times that we have never seen before. From that standpoint we will continue to pull things out right up until the 18th. As I showed, we've already cut positions. We've cut the heart out of a couple of departments, there's nothing left. The people are there, the wages are there. Some we've cut equipment."
Some cost cutting measures include reducing museum hours and not giving raises unless the town is contractually obligated to.
Other areas being looked at include cutting some recreational programs, and looking at the idea of closing two mostly unused town parks - Magnolia Park and a park in the woods near Ross Park Christian Academy. The town could also save money if it cuts its Vestal days festival, although no decision has been made on that yet.
A Newark Valley Pastor is accused of stealing from his church and Habitat for Humanity.
State Police have charged David Heckman, Junior of Binghamton with grand larceny.
Police say that as treasurer of the Tioga County Habitat for Humanity, he pocketed more than 50 thousand dollars given to him as mortgage payments from the residents of the Habitat homes.
He's also accused of making unauthorized purchases of 15 hundred dollars from the account of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Newark Valley where he was pastor.
Heckman has been removed as Habitat treasurer and is on a leave of absence from the Church.
