HEUVELTON - The town of Oswegatchie’s Board on Monday adopted a $2,182,201 budget for 2013 with decreased property tax rate.

Following a public hearing attended by no one, the board voted 4-0 in favor of the spending plan which carries with it a $2.59 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

This year’s budget is $2,129,534 with a tax rate of $3.05 per $1,000.

The new budget has a tax levy of $581,237, up about $1,400 from this year’s $579,842.

The town’s taxable value rose from $223,767,278 from this year’s $189,755,568 owing to last spring and summer’s assessment revaluation.

“That was a significant jump,” said William E. Dashnaw, the town’s budget officer.

The town also managed to stay under the state-imposed 2 percent cap on property tax increases.

In other budget highlights, the town set up a reserve account with $100,000 from a $135,000 highway department equipment account to go toward buying a truck for the department.

Another $100,000 could be added in 2014.

Also, snow removal will stay at $180,000.

The town’s yearly contracts to provide fire protection to Heuvelton and Morristown will cost, respectively, $106,138 and $17,500.

The town will continue to receive the same 2013 allocation of $135,180 from the state’s Consolidated Highway Improvement Program. Fees and charges for permits, licenses and services are expected to raise $118,100 for the next year, an increase from $115,300 in 2012.

Voting in favor of the budget were Supervisor Alfred “Bud” Nichols and councilors Lillian O. LaRose, Kenneth Wilson and Michael Stoner. Councilor Bruce O. LaRose was absent.

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