William J. Kemble reports in The Daily Freeman that no members of the public commented on the proposed $2.35 million Saugerties village 2018-19 budget at an April 2 public hearing. There's a 0.64 percent spending increase of $14,867 and Mayor Bill Murphy says its the eighth consecutive year with a tax levy decrease. “I think that’s pretty impressive,” Murphy said. “Our budget is over $1 million less than it was nine years ago. Obviously, (the town takeover of) the police force has something to do with that, but we still maintained and absorbed a lot of other increases over those years.” Saugerties taxpayers would get a $1.68 million property tax levy, a 1.08 percent decrease of $18,267, under the proposal. The village board will vote on the budget at their April 16 meeting in the village Fire Department meeting room at 43 Partition St. Read the full story in The Daily Freeman.