The Town of Oneonta approved its 2019 budget in a board meeting Wednesday night.
The council members also established the Oneonta Fire Protection District by unanimous vote. The district will be identical to the prior Town of Oneonta Fire District, which was dissolved on Nov. 2 after a 3-2 vote by its commissioners.
The budget includes a 5.5 percent tax levy to fund the construction of a Department of Public Works highway garage. Town Supervisor Robert Wood once again stated the necessity of the garage and said while this tax levy exceeds the 2 percent tax cap, it will result in an increase of 14 cents per thousand on a home's tax evaluation, or $14 on a $100,000 home.
The budget passed with one dissent from Board Member Patricia Riddell Kent, who said she supports the DPW garage but was hoping the board could “tighten the belt” in other areas to mitigate the tax increase.