OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen The Cassadaga Village Board set the tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year’s budget at a recent meeting. Pictured from left to right: Village of Cassadaga Deputy Clerk Roxanne Astry and Village Clerk Annette McChesney.

CASSADAGA — Taxes are set to increase in the village of Cassadaga, but not to the point where the village exceeds the tax levy limit.

The Cassadaga Village Board has proposed a tax increase of 8 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The increase would bring the tax rate to $3.32 per $1,000, up from $3.24 a year ago. A public hearing on the proposed budget is set for Wednesday, April 23, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Village Hall.

With the new rate, the village tax levy in 2025-26 will be $147,757.78, up from last year’s figure of just over $143,000. The village stayed nearly $2,200 under the tax cap a year ago. In rolling over that figure to the latest budget, the village is again under the maximum it could propose.

Another increase is set for the water rates in the village. Two years ago, the village raised its water rate by a dollar per thousand gallons. Last year, the rate stayed flat at $6.25. This upcoming budget splits the gap, with a 50 cent increase per thousand gallons for a new rate of $6.75 per thousand gallons.

This past year’s water revenue was estimated at $285,300, with appropriations of $314,200.50. The village’s water fund is currently in good shape, but with a substantial project on the horizon, it was deemed necessary to propose a slight increase.

While rates in the village will be rising, the water levels of the surrounding lakes will finally be lowering.

The Cassadaga Lakes Association has already received part of its $50,000 allotment to mitigate the water levels of the lakes surrounding the village. Addressing the lake water levels has been a joint effort between the Cassadaga Lakes Association, the Department of Environmental Conservation, Chautauqua County Soil and Water, and the Chautauqua County Watershed Conservancy.

An engineering study was recently completed to inform the agencies of how to proceed, including the removal of three beaver dams along with removal of the beavers from the area. Additional funding in future years will also be provided to continue addressing beaver dams to keep the problem from recurring.

In other substantial news regarding water in the village, the capital project to update the village’s water system is moving forward. The Board officially approved the contract with Square Engineering as lead engineer, under the direction of Matt Zarbo. Village Attorney Joe Calimeri told the Board that the agreement was relatively standard compared to others he has viewed, but where the village’s contract is different from others is that the project itself has two different routes – one if a water source is located and one if it is not.

Contracts were also approved with Municipal Solutions for assistance with financing avenues, and with G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing, of Spencerport, NY, for an income survey and report on the village to assess its eligibility for grant funding.

Also of note, the village was unsuccessful in its bid for NY Forward Grant funding. Westfield and Angola were among the municipalities that were selected for the state grant. The village plans to re-submit for the grant again in future years.

The next meeting of the Cassadaga Village Board is Wednesday, April 9 at 7 p.m. at the Village Hall.