BATH, N.Y. -- Many village residents are not happy with the decision, but the Bath Village Board passed their budget Tuesday night, a budget that includes a 9.6 percent tax increase.

The budget totals $4.3 million. A person with a $100,000 home will see about a $200 increase.

In a public hearing before the vote, some people argued that much of the village population is senior citizens on fixed income and they can't afford higher costs. Village officials say they understand the frustration ,but are not left with many options to balance the budget.

"Fifty-one percent of our property is non-taxable. It's not for profits, we have the county buildings, we have churches, we have the fairgrounds, we have the school, all of those are not taxable. So that leaves the burden to the 49 percent," said Mayor John Stranges.

Village officials say the tax increase was adopted to save services like the DPW and Police and Fire Departments, which have already been cut in recent years.