Your 2008 Tax Dollars - Where They Come From and Where They Go
The following graphs explain the 2007 budget of $ 14,464,680.00
*Goverment Operations includes: Administrative and Service Departments, Debt Service, Insurance, Contingency, and Employee Benefits.
This year, for the average Gates taxpayer, town taxes will again total only $1.82 per day. As the graph indicates, this means that the average homeowner will pay approximately $665 per year in town taxes for 2008. Keep in mind that this figure is the lowest of all Towns with Police forces.
The fact that Gates is now receiving a share of the sales tax moneys in cash is one of the most important elements in keeping the tax rate at a reasonable level. That increase could have been smaller, if not for other factors. For example, the local amount to be raised by taxes for the Gates Public Library totals $1,151,759. The biggest problem, however, is that Gates is the smallest town in Monroe County at 15 square miles, and the town has no room to expand our property tax base.
In addition, residents of the town have long since determined that their interests are best served by a local police department. Due to personnel contract settlements and the need to constantly update equipment, the police budget continually rises. Although the residents of Gates are fortunate to have a dedicated and professional department, the police force alone will cost the taxpayers $3,186,024 in 2008. This expense constitutes 22% of the entire town budget.
One of the most difficult task of town government, or any level of government, for that matter, is to maintain the highest possible level of service at the lowest possible cost to taxpayers. Only you can judge how effectively this is done, based upon the information above.