Emilia Teasdale is reporting for The Columbia Paper the Chatham Village Board held a public hearing on its proposed 2018-19 budget, April 5. The spending plan totals $2.1 million, with a general fund of $1.2 million and a separate water budget of nearly $499,000 and sewer of more than $483,000. The proposal includes a slight increase, so the tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value will go up 4 cents. The board continues to deal with a deficit in the water and sewer budgets. “We still have a deficit and we’re still anticipating an increase to cover it,” Mayor Tom Curran said of residents’ water and sewer bills. He said that property owners should look for that increase to take effect this summer. Village budgets run from June to May. Curran stressed that the budget is still a draft until the board approves a final version at the end of April. Budget workshops are planned throughout the month: on April 18 the board will meet to discuss the general fund budget lines at 6 p.m.; and there is a tentative budget meeting set for April 25 at noon. The public will be able to continue to offer comment on the budget throughout the process, the mayor said. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.