SARANAC LAKE — The Harrietstown Town Council adopted its 2019 budget on Monday morning in a rescheduled hearing.

The meeting had been rescheduled at the request of Councilman Howard Riley, who could not attend the Nov. 8 preliminary budget hearing. Riley was absent for Monday morning’s meeting as well.

One issue was debated before the vote. The town council received a request to increase Airport Manager Corey Hurwitch’s salary to $80,000 — a $7,000 increase from his present pay. In the proposed 2019 budget, Hurwitch’s salary is slated for a $3,725 increase, to $76,500.

The reason Councilwoman Patricia Meagher gave for the increase was “to come in line with other airports in the area.”

“The only one closest one to us would be Massena,” Supervisor Michael Kilroy said. “We’re roughly about the same as Massena.”

According to SeeThroughNY, Massena’s airport manager is making $87,750 in 2018.

“I guess it comes right down to, I can’t justify giving anybody a $7,000 raise.”

The vote to raise Hurwitch’s salary by the higher amount did not pass.

Riley, in a phone interview, said the vote over the airport manager’s salary was in error, as it had been voted on at a previous board meeting.

“You can’t simply vote on the same issue again,” Riley said. He clarified that the prior vote could be rescinded and the issue reconsidered, but that would’ve required his presence at the meeting.

The preliminary budget was adopted with no changes.

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Tax rates down in special districts

In the adopted budget for 2019, rates for Harrietstown special districts will decrease or remain the same.

¯ Lake Colby sewer and sewer capital project districts’ rates are remaining the same, at 19 and 55 cents, respectively.

¯ Duprey Street water and sewer rates will remain the same at 32 cents.

¯ Algonquin water and sewer and Branch Farm water rates will decrease to zero.

¯ Lake Street water rates will decrease from 52 to 37 cents.

¯ Ampersand sewer rates will decrease from $2.51 to $1.42.

¯ Lake Colby water rates will decrease from 29 to 18 cents.

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By the #s

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Harrietstown adopted budget for 2019

Spending: $5,569,936, up 0.8% from this year

Tax levy (amount raised in taxes): $2,488,726, up 2.9% from this year

Tax rate inside village: $1.59 per $1,000 assessed value, up 5% from this year

Tax rate outside village: $3.28 per $1,000 assessed value, up 1% from this year