ELLENVILLE – With only a week left to meet deadline, the Ellenville village board of trustees approved last-minute resolutions amending their 2017/2018 tentative budget to remain under the state mandated 1 percent tax levy cap.

Initially, the tentative budget indicated a tax levy increase of 4.54 percent from last year's figure of $3,455,452. But, after much discussion at the April 25 meeting, that figure was lowered to a .78 percent increase, or $3,482,389.00 out of a final overall budget figure of $4,899,385.

"We did it down and dirty," said village manager Joseph Stoeckeler. "The theory with making the adjustment down was to cut $125,000."

To get the numbers to jive, Stoeckeler explained, anticipated reimbursement revenue for the Safe Routes to School program was increased and the village's four outstanding loans set for refinancing from interest rates of 4.25 percent to 3.25 percent, a $72,000 saving per year.

None were in attendance from the public for the budget hearing.

In other news, it was announced that the Ellenville Police Department will purchase twelve ballistic headgear sets in the amount of $4,180, with the cost to be reimbursed by the county's Division of Criminal Justice.

There will be a public meeting at 6 p.m. next Wednesday, May 3, regarding the easements required under NY Rising for stream bank improvements. Approximately forty residents have property that falls within the affected stream bank areas, within both the village and town.

Village building inspector Brian Schug reported that Emerald Pond Estates, site of a major apartment fire in March, has undergone partial demolition work and is preparing to rebuild. Also, a proposed plan to build a Taco Bell on Route 209 is moving forward and is expected to return to the village planning board in May. In addition, Stewart's gas station is planning a major expansion and Marbella Ristorante, on Canal Street, is undergoing extensive interior restoration work.

During trustee concerns, Patty Steinhoff inquired about the development of village sidewalks and questioned the town planning board's decision to require new businesses to install pedestrian sidewalks along Route 209, as per a recommendation by the county planning board.