Greenwood Lake budget up 16.12 percent

Greenwood Lake — Increases in insurance, retirement funding, salaries and workman’s compensation are the driving force behind the Village of Greenwood Lake’s budget increase this year. Residents will be paying a 16.12 percent increase in their village taxes for the general fund. The new tax rate is $46.05 per $1,000 of assessed value. For a home that is assessed at $30,000, that homeowner will now pay $1,381.50 in village taxes. The village’s water budget is also up significantly to $608,828. Last year, the budget was $420,750. The village has experienced problems with its filtration plant and has now hired a private company to operate its plant. Everyone with water service in the village will now have to pay a yearly $80 flat charge for water. In addition, everyone pays $50 every six months for a filtration charge. For those customers with water meters, rates are increasing to the following: those using up to 4,500 gallons of water, the charge is $3.15 per 1,000 gallons; customers using from 4,501 to 80,000 gallons, the charge is $5.37 per 1,000 gallons; anyone using more than 80,000 gallons is charged $6.98 per 1,000 gallons. Those homes without meters will now be charged a flat fee of $200 every six months. That is up from $125 every six months. Summer residents, who receive water only from May through September, will be charged $200 for their water, up from $150 last year.