Emilia Teasdale is reporting for The Columbia Paper the Chatham Village Board is moving forward with its $1.09 million 2020-21 budget, despite the inability to meet in person and the postponement of village elections. Village budgets are effective June 1 and must be submitted to the state in April. The board conducted budget workshops on April 9 and 13, and held a public hearing on the spending plan April 15. The board will meet again April 29, to vote on the budget. At the April 13 budget workshop Mayor John Howe and Treasurer Robert Patterson said the biggest unknown on the revenue side is sales tax and that could mean $100,000 less than they have projected. Howe lauded village department heads for their efforts, making cuts in their departments, and calling it a “bare bones” budget. The mayor suggested the $10,500 the board gives to the Morris Memorial every year for youth programs could be cut. He said there were actually some question about the legality of awarding the money to the Morris because it is not a village program. All five board members agreed to cut support to the Morris program, choosing to spend the money on the Department of Public Works, police and fire department instead. “We’re going into the unknown,” Howe said, pointing out the board can revisit the budget in the coming months if revenues change. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.