When property owners receive their tax bills in June, they will be charged the same rate they have been paying for the last decade.

The streak began during the tenure of former mayor James Woolson, who vowed when he left office that the village board would not be able to hold the line on taxes because they "wouldn't be able to figure it out."

But the mayor and trustees have had the benefit of rising sale tax revenue which which has made the job of maintaining a steady rate easier.

"It's the reason we're able to hold the tax rate steady. It is income we didn't get before 1992," mayor Wendell Tripp said last year at budget time.

The spending plan for the coming year was presented to the board of trustees during a special meeting last Thursday afternoon.

"It holds the tax rate where it's been for many years," he told the trustees. "I don't think it holds any great surprises."

The budget calls for general fund spending of $2.12 million dollars, an increase of $240,00. Spending in all funds grew to slightly more than $4.2 million.

The increase in spending is being driven by the anticipated purchase of a new fire truck for $220,000; more money in the snow removal budget; an increase of $15,000 in street improvements and a $5,000 hike in shade tree spending.

Tripp said the additional money in the snow removal budget comes through the cost of salt which the village began using again this winter. There is also concern that the price of salt could rise dramatically for next winter. The village plans to use as much as 300 tons of road salt.

The village expects to make repairs to a section of Averill Road that is in need of renovation. The work was put off last summer, but Tripp said it is a top priority for the coming season. He indicated it is likely other streets will be worked on as well.

The extra general fund spending will be matched by revenue estimates that are up by more than $250,000.

The tax levy, or the amount to be raised by village property taxes, remains almost constant at approximately $1.25 million. It has fluctuated less than $9,000 in the last three budgets.

In the end, it all adds up to the same $11.30 tax rate village property owners have been paying for ten years.

The board of trustees has scheduled a public hearing on the tentative budget for Thursday, April 12, at 7:30 p.m. in the village meeting room. Copies of the budget are available in the village clerk's office during normal office hours.