ELDRED, NY — Highland officials have the spending side of the 2018 budget finished, but the revenue side will determine how new tax bills will go.

Speaking at the town board’s October 10 meeting, Supervisor Jeff Haas reported the town’s appropriations for next year amount to a 4.3% increase in new spending. He anticipated that that percentage would not translate to a tax increase, as new revenues from growth in the town’s property assessment rolls can be expected.

The board is shooting to stay below the state’s 2% tax increase, but they will vote to approve a local law that would allow them to exceed the ceiling. This will be on the October 26 agenda of public hearings, which will cover contracts with the Sunshine Hall Library, the American Legion Ambulance Service and the Highland Lake and Yulan fire departments.

Hearings will begin at 6:30 p.m., with the final hearing on the budget scheduled at 7 p.m.

The board approved a resolution allowing Highland co-historian Debra Conway, should she get needed funding, to install a historic marker commemorating river log rafting at the River Road cul-de-sac and parking area.

Woods Road resident Nancy Esposito, who has complained about trespassing from various users of a neighboring property, attempted to speak to the board about a related topic. However, Haas cut her off, noting that the issue is now in court.

Attorney for the town Michael Davidoff later confirmed that Esposito’s neighbor, Zachary Klein, had been served with two zoning violations, one for erecting an accessory building without a permit and a second for violation of supplementary regulations allowing no more than two accessory buildings.

Davidoff said the subsequent August 31 court date was adjourned until December 6, during which time Klein was directed either to file for a zoning variance or remove the offending structures.

Additionally, the board renewed their annual 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Halloween curfew for all minors unaccompanied by adults.