Wisler Fills Council Vacancy

Longtime local volunteer Rachel Wisler was accepted as the newest member of the Wolcott Town Council Tuesday evening. Wisler has been an active member in the Junior Women’s Club and also runs a business in town with her husband, Rene. She will represent the 2nd District after the seat became vacant when Randy Petroniro suddenly resigned a few weeks ago. Because Petroniro

Democrats Propose Alternative Budget

Wolcott’s Town Council approved a budget Tuesday night, but not without Democrats offering an alternative proposal.

The Board of Education’s proposed $31,470,976 budget which includes a $191,000 increase (0.61%) emerged unscathed and neither Republicans nor Democrats had much comment on it. Instead, Mayor Dunn’s $17,512,688.37 proposal became the focus of discussion even though it is already 6.0% ($1,115,854.55) lower than this year. Even with the overall expenditures reduced, the budget still faced an approximate $100,000 gap because of falling revenue. Wolcott will be receiving less money in State paving, plowing and other grants because of the State budget crisis. In addition, the Town’s grand list has remained stable and some tax payers are finding it difficult to pay their due.

Democrat David Gentile proposed an amended budget which would keep the Education budget the same, but reduce the Mayor’s town budget by $73,571. Their proposal includes a 0.01 mill decrease. They accomplished this by adding $100,000 into the expected back property taxes (to $750,000) and estimating a 98.33% collection rate. Below are the proposed budget reductions by the Democrats: