By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
LANDIS — In order to balance the budget, the town board will look at contracting out its sanitation services, which primarily affect garbage and recycling.
The board is in the midst of its 2011-12 fiscal year budget process and plan to meet until they’ve reached a consensus and a balanced budget.
The board met Monday. Town staff provided seven options that would created a balanced budget.
Right now the budget is short $178,000, which is lower than last year’s shortfall of $500,000, said Town Manager Reed Linn.
The option that was automatically stricken was a tax increase.
“I don’t see where we can do that,” said Mayor Dennis Brown.
The tax rate in Landis is 40 cents per $100 valuation and an increase would bring the amount to .4743 cents per $100.
In order to be revenue neutral, the tax rate would need to be set in order to generate the same amount of money in an upcoming fiscal year as the tax rate did this year.
Revenue neutral sounds good, but the residents pay more taxes, said Alderman Tony Hilton.
The town lost some of its tax base, the result of a population shift. The projected population compared to the town’s last population count saw a few less people in the town.
“That would affect some revenues coming in,” Linn said.
He said the tax collection rate dropped and the tax base dropped, which is a substantial loss.
Furlough days, which the town opted to do last year and saved $60,000, were discussed, but not decided upon.
One choice was to reduce the work force by laying off three to five employees.
“We have not targeted any employees,” Linn said.
However, if the board went with the reduction in staff option, employees in the police, fire, administration, streets and sanitation departments could be affected.
“Our employees have been really loyal to us. I would not want to see a cut in employees,” said alderman Roger Safrit.
Other board members agreed with Safrit.
The board instructed Linn to immediately advertise for contractors who could take over the sanitation services.
If the town contracted the sanitation services to an outside company, it could mean loss of at least three employees.
One employee is nearing retirement, but Linn said he was not certain if this employee wanted to retire or would accept an early retirement package. He said he would ask.
If the town contracted out its garbage services, it would keep its current recycling contract with S.H.A.R.K.S. Recycling, of which the town has a five-year contract.
The board hopes that if they do indeed contract with a company to provide sanitation services, it could hire the town’s employees. When the board was considering this last year, a company that showed interest said it could definitely hire town employees.
“There is no guarantee,” Hilton said.
But the board agreed they could ask any potential contractor to consider hiring town employees.
Another money saving alternative is to sell surplus property, however Linn told the board he didn’t believe it would help in this year’s budget.
The town staff was instructed to look at cuts to all departments.
The board’s next budget session is 6 p.m. April 19 in the board meeting room.

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In other business
The Landis board of aldermen also:
• Discussed whether a plan was in place to pay for handheld radios for police and fire when the system goes from analog to digital.
Fire Division Chief Art Delaney said the fire department’s switch over is being considered right along with the county.
Police Chief Brian McCoy said the switch has been a topic of discussion at many police chiefs’ meetings, but no actual figures exist that could estimate how much it would cost the town.
Linn suggested the money the police department receives back for court fees could generate between $2,000 to $4,000 a year, which could help.
• Approved keeping the pool fees the same.
Town Manager Reed Linn said if the town increased its fees, then likely they would see less people at the pool.
• Approved the mowing contract to Pro Green, who already mows the town’s grass. This company was not the lowest bidder with $48,000, but did have all of the requested bid information.
Public Works Director Steve Rowland also vouched for their quality work when the board had some concern with not going with the lowest bidder.
The difference between the lowest bidder was $5,500. Alderman Tony Hilton did not vote in favor of Pro Green.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.