By slicing expenses in the Highway Department, the Boston Town Board has removed a proposed tax rate increase in that portion of the 2010 budget.

The board presented a revised budget at its meeting Wednesday night, Oct. 21, in which the highway tax rate has been dropped from $1.43 per $1,000 of property value in the original proposal to $1.38 per $1,000.

Supervisor Richard Hawkins explained that the board trimmed more of the department’s spending by cutting fuel costs.

“Tonight, I wish to inform the community that once again, for the third year in a row, this board has been able to tighten the budget,” he said.

Board members previously decreased the department’s proposed budget through cuts in fuel, summer overtime and seasonal employees.

With the adjustment, the tax levy and tax rate for the general, highway, fire, lighting and ambulance funds show a slight increase.

As proposed on Oct. 7, the budget contained a $58,391 increase in the tax levy, the amount the town collects for those funds. The revised budget raises the levy by $32,891.

There is now a tax rate hike of 2 cents per $1,000 in those five funds instead of 7 cents as the rate moves from $3.27 per $1,000 in 2009 to $3.29 in 2010.

Using rounded numbers, the fire tax rate jumps from $1.32 per $1,000 to $1.33 and the ambulance tax rate rises from 12 cents per $1,000 to 13 cents.

In the general fund, the rate remains at 36 cents per $1,000 while the lighting rate stays at 9 cents per $1,000.

Water rates vary in each district and the garbage fee will climb from $190 per unit to $192.

Hawkins emphasized that the Board has no control over the garbage, water and lighting rates.

He also compared the proposed 2010 budget to 2006, the last budget approved by the Board with a Republican majority.

“The tax rates for the general fund, highway, fire and ambulance services in the 2010 budget are lower than in 2006,” he said.

During his report, Highway Superintendent Robert Telaak objected to some of the reductions in his budget.

Citing the increasing costs of fuel, road salt, asphalt and other items, he said the department needs more money.

Board members scheduled a public hearing about the budget during the next meeting, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4.

In another matter, the Board authorized Hawkins to submit two requests to the Erie County Community Development Block Grant Program.

Hawkins will ask for $82,500 for the Irish Gulf Streambank Stabilization Project. If it receives the money, the town will match the grant with $82,500 from its general fund.

The town will also request money for the Rural Transit Service.

Officials also heard comments from a Republican candidate about the Board’s decision to build a concrete barrier that will divert water on Richard Jerome’s property.

During every rainfall, water rushed toward the property on Liebler Road because Jerome closed a ditch, Hawkins said in September. Part of the barrier runs down the road and the other half is on the property to send the water in other directions.

Jay Boardway, a Republican seeking a board seat, questioned the decision to spend town money on private property.

“The bottom line is the town spent $15,000 of my money and other taxpayers’ money,” he said.

Officials spent the money legally, said Brian Downey, town attorney.

Councilman Jim Pluta reminded the audience that Boardway is running in the upcoming election and accused him of trying to “stir up trouble.”

“Thank you for the grandstand,” he said.

Afterward, Downey stressed that those who criticized the Board had no documentation to show wrongdoing.

“None of them have come to me or given me a legal opinion,” he said.

Board members also received a notice from the town Conservation Advisory Council that the council unanimously elected Norman Hertz as chairman.