Your 2009 Tax Dollars - Where They Come From and Where They Go

The graphs at the bottom of this page explain the 2009 budget of $ 14,899,890.00

The following graphs explain the 2009 budget of $ 14,899,890.00

*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 $664 per year in town taxes for 2009. Keep in mind that this figure is the lowest of all Towns with Police forces.

In fact town taxes have been reduced in 2009. This tax decrease is the result of effective money management. The Town of Gates aggressively seeks non real [roperty revenues. The more that we can raise means that your taxes will go lower. We have done this so well that only 65.8% of our total revenues come from real property taxes.

In addition, our spending is reasonable.For example, 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 $3,200,000 in 2009. 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. The Town of Gates has been very effective in this regard.