Concern over rising fuel prices and an anticipated increase in the number of participants in the summer recreation program have contributed to an increase in the Village of Montgomery budget.

The village board, following a brief public hearing on April 5, adopted a spending plan for the fiscal year that runs from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023.

The total budget of $5,995,358, represents an increase of $203,647 over the current fiscal year’s spending plan. The amount to be raised by taxes increases from $3,046,400 to $3,120,579.

The tax rate, however, decreases to $16.206 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation from the current $16.453.

The budget reflects an increase in assessed valuation in the village by more than $7 million. Officials also anticipate a spike in sales tax revenue and the economy continues to emerge from the pandemic.

One significant area of increase is in the youth program, where the village is budgeting $89,760 to pay the recreation department staff. The recreation program is expected to grow from 75 to 200 participants. The village can also anticipate an increase in recreation fees as a results of that increase.

Most village employees will see a pay increase of approximately two percent. Mayor Steve Brescia will receive $19,855, Deputy Mayor Joann Schools will earn $11,428, while the three remaining village trustees will collect a salary of $10,011 each. The village clerk is due to collect $60,807, the village treasurer will receive $48,895 and the part-time police chief will collect $32,000.

“I can’t object to the raises that the board and yourself are getting,” said Don Berger, a frequent public participant at village board meetings.

While Berger had no major issues with the budget, he did object to the manner in which its was presented to the public, noting that the proposed budget was posted on the village website just a few hours before the public hearing.

“In past years you’ve had work session with a budget,” Berger said. “The past two meetings, this board has spoken about transparency.

Transparency includes me being able to at least go on to the website and being able to look at this budget and not at 3:30 this afternoon.”

Berger noted that the Village of Walden board held several public budget work session prior to a budget hearing.

“We have not had a work session over the past three or four years and I don’t know that we need a work session,” Brescia replied. “I know the board looks at my submitted budget and if they have a problem with it, we can certainly have a work session. But we’ve tried that work session think a few year past and they didn’t seem to work out so well.”

The meeting was the first to be live-streamed on the Village of Montgomery Facebook Page. The village board recently reached an agreement with Acquisitions Marketing for the service. The board added $5,000 to the 2022-23 budget for the videographer.