By ALVIN REINER
WESTPORT — Residents of Westport will see their tax levy decrease 0.7 percent if the proposed budget passes.
The levy, the amount to be raised by taxes, is down $561 from this year's amount of $805,803.
While the total budget amount is $1,445,880.83, a 0.75-percent increase from last year, Westport Supervisor Dan Connell attributes the tax-levy decrease to the sharing of sales tax with other towns.
The tax rate — $3.53 per $1,000 assessed value — is down 5 percent from the current year's rate of $3.71 per $1,000. The owner of a property assessed at $100,000 can expect to pay $353.
Westport's total assessed value is $227,851,117, which includes a tax-exempt land amount of $28,542,712.
No areas of major increases or decreases in budget spending were indicated for major projects, purchases or costs.
Elected officials and town employees will receive a 3-percent pay increase.
Residents living in Water District 3 can expect a $5 increase per quarter, while the other districts will be the same as the current year.
"I want to commend the town board for bringing in a budget with a tax levy and a tax rate that are below the current 2009 budget," Connell said.
The budget will be voted on at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Westport Town Hall.
