More costs for storm repair and rising insurance premiums
The Nelsonville Village Board on April 15 approved a $359,000 budget for 2024-25 that includes a tax hike but projects more revenue from traffic tickets to counter expenses for storm repairs and rising insurance premiums.
The 3.46 percent tax levy increase is the maximum allowed for Nelsonville under a state cap. It adds $10,000 in property tax revenue, for a total of $310,513.
The village said it used grants to complete a feasibility study for a sewer system and to repair damage from the major storm that hit the area in July. It said the cost of additional repairs from that storm is still the biggest threat to village finances, even with state and federal contributions.
Insurance costs increased by more than $12,000 because of “frivolous lawsuits that have been dismissed by the courts,” according to the village, but a prosecutor it hired has the village on pace to increase revenue from vehicle and traffic tickets by 80 percent over last year. Its interest income also increased by $5,500. The village said it will close the fiscal year on May 30 with a $468,000 fund balance.
