ESSEX — The tax levy is up less than 1 percent in the Town of Essex's proposed 2010 budget.

The tax levy, which is the amount to be raised by taxes, is $649,688, up from the current $649,912.

"The town board has worked hard to keep the tax levy down again this year," Essex Town Supervisor Ronald Jackson said.

The total budget appropriations amount to $1,189,144, down 1.9 percent over 2009 figures.

Revenues for 2010 total $459,456, a 7.4-percent increase from this year.

The anticipated general and highway tax rate per $1,000 of assessed property value is $3.99.

The total assessed value for Essex is $141,590,684, with $17,058,245 of that being tax exempt.

The major increase in the budget is for health insurance, Jackson said, which will rise by $19,097.

Other costs in the budget include: New York State Retirement, up $8,087; a new copier, $5,900; and a new lawn mower, $2,500.

The town's major project is the wastewater system, which will cost $11.5 million. This is being paid for with $10.5 million in grant money and $1 million in zero-interest bonds.

The wastewater system will have no effect on the 2010 budget.

There will not be any pay increase for elected officials, while town employee salaries are up 3 percent, and highway personnel pay is up 5.2 percent, based on their contract.

There will be no changes in rates paid for the lighting, water or fire districts.

A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Essex Town Hall.

The Town Council will vote on the budget at 7 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Grange Hall in Whallonsburg.

E-mail Alvin Reiner at: @pressrepublican.com