MASSENA -- Mayor Tim Currier is proposing a 2016-17 village budget that would not raise taxes.

“I am proposing a zero percent increase in this budget,” Currier said.

Currier said he wants to use $460,000 in fund balance to offset increases in spending.

For the general fund, he anticipates spending .7 percent more, a total of $9,250,000, and bringing in .7 percent less in revenue, $8,780,000.

The refuse fund would cost 10 percent more and bring in 4 percent more revenue, Currier proposes. That’s $1,300,000 in spending and $1,180,000 in revenues.

The water fund would bring in $1,180,000 and cost $1,300,000.

Sewer fund spending would go up 2 percent to $2,000,000 and revenues would raise less than 1 percent to $1,800,000.

Joint recreation spending would increase 16 percent to $859,000 and revenues would hike 6 percent to $761,000.

Currier said he will release more budget information at an April 5 public hearing at 5:30 p.m. in the Town Hall.

“My proposed tentative budget represents both an aggressive approach to reducing overall expense in the Village, as well as a progressive approach to moving Massena forward,” he said in a prepared statement. “We have an opportunity in the coming months to work with our bargaining units through collective bargaining and negotiations to make our operation more efficient. I recognize services are important; they are the primary reason local government exists. Our challenge is finding the balance of providing necessary services along with the ones we can afford, while treating our employees fairly. 

“Growing the local economy is vital to the future success of Massena. My proposed tentative budget supports five specific ideas to do this, and I will detail them at the public hearing.”