From Carl Hyde Jr., Bethany town supervisor:
At an emergency financial Town Board Meeting in Bethany last night, May 27, after discussion on the FACT of Genesee County breaking its agreement with the towns and villages for Shared Sales Tax Revenue it agreed to, the Town of Bethany made some hard choices.
The Sales Tax Revenue Sharing has made up 50 percent of the town's budget for decades to keep town taxes low.
The Genesee County Legislature ended that on the evening of May 13, 2020.
The Town of Bethany's budget was passed in November of 2019 for the 2020 year; taxes came in and plan were made for 2020, the county dropped a BOMB on all towns and villages.
The Town of Bethany voted unanimously to furlough the Highway Department from June 1, 2020 through Aug. 31, 2020. The employees will be brought back on occasion in emergency situations.
With the revenue to the town cut off, we need to have money to get through the winter plowing.
The Bethany Town Board is planning budget adjustments and cuts in spending to plan for the 2021 budget, which will likely have a tax increase if the county keeps the sales tax revenue going forward.
