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Council chamber nearly empty for public hearing on proposed property tax increase

By Howard B. Owens

Apparently, the citizens of Batavia don't object to a 2.4-percent increase in property taxes.

Monday night, the city council conducted a public hearing on the proposed 2012/13 budget and only one person showed up to make a statement.

That person was John Roach, who suggested that the $2,500 set aside for GO-ART! be redirected to the Veterans Memorial Fund.

Roach also thought the city was dipping too much into its reserve funds in this budget.

Otherwise, crickets.

The council will vote on the budget Feb. 17.

A water-rate increase got even less public attention. The public hearing for that budget proposal had no speakers.

The plan calls for the average customer to pay $13.50 more annual for city water.

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