Text Box: BUDGET (FROM PAGE 1) patching, milling and resurfacing throughout the town, but not full depth pavement reconstruction -- was estimated at $275,000. At the meeting, she proposed raising the line item to $400,000, saying "I want to do as much as possible at once because there are economies of scale." There was some discussion among councilmembers about the wisdom of raising property taxes in the current poor economic climate. Councilmembers Nancy Long and Eve Arber said they were reluctant to do so, but accepted the mayor's recommendation, along with councilmembers Robin Kogelnik and Mr. Matney. In the new budget, there were several large increases related to operating the town hall. Maintenance cost provisions will increase from $8,000 to $35,000 due to having the hall painted; heating from $2,500 to $4,000, telephone service from $1,700 to $2,500, and water from $1,000 to $2,000. At the same time, electricity costs are expected to decrease from an estimated $6,000 in 2007-2008 to just $2,000 this year; only $1,532 was spent as of May 1st, which was roughly the same in the preceding fiscal year. (Ed. note: The town joined an electricity coop of county municipalities which brought expenses down.) Legal costs are expected to decrease this year, from $25,000 to $20,000. Snow plowing costs, which were budgeted at $5,000 last year (only $225 was spent), are budgeted at Text Box: PERILS OF PROXIMITY TO TOWN HALL By Bill Turque Living next door to Glen Echo Town Hall has its advantages: stamps from the Post Office without much of a walk; same for a seat at the Saturday night film festival. For Mark and Julie McCaffrey of 6104 Harvard Ave, it’s a different story when it rains as hard as it did during the first week of June. The severe thunderstorms that pounded the Washington area from mid-afternoon June 4 and through the night sent water surging from the town hall parking lot, where a storm drain was blocked, onto their yard. Just a day earlier, the couple had had the yard freshly landscaped. “It just washed everything down to the far corner of the garden,” Julie McCaffrey told the council at its June 9 meeting. Much of Glen Echo was rocked by the storms, leaving streets and backyards strewn with tree limbs. Town clerk-treasurer Cathie Polak’s home lost a fence to a piece of a neighbor’s tree. Council members quickly agreed that the McCaffreys were entitled to compensation, approving the $1,300 they requested to cover the costs of fixing their yard. "It’s totally logical that we would take care of this damage caused by problems on the town property,” said council member Robin Kogelnik. Ms. Polak said the town had the drain “snaked” to about 170 feet, dislodging “gallons of muck.” Life can come at you fast on Harvard Ave., to paraphrase the insurance commercial. A few months ago Raya Bodnarchuk's front fence was smashed by a Postal Service truck that was backing up to make a turn. She said she's been compensated for the damage.