LEWISTON—The slightly improving business climate in Western New York is providing a boost for the Town of Lewiston budget.

Finance Director Michael A. Johnson told the Town Board on Monday that the town’s share of receipts from sales taxes and from the gross receipts tax on Chemical Waste Management Services have exceeded original projections.

Johnson said the additional receipts would be folded into the 2012 budget for town uses such as highways and drainage services.

When this year’s budget was proposed, sales tax revenue based on last year’s sales was projected at $3,137,765. “Business was a little better at the end of the year,” the budget director said, “and our actual sales tax income will be $3,390,354.”

The town also budgeted $205,000 as its share of gross receipts from the CWM waste-disposal site. Johnson said CWM notified him that its actual payment will be $215,000. “They promised to send us the check in March,” he said.

The additional sales tax receipts amount to $252,589, and the additional waste fee will be $10,000, for a total of $262,589. The finance director said the additional money could be used this year for unanticipated expenses.

Looking ahead at public works projects in the Town of Lewiston, Highway Superintendent Douglas A. Janese asked the board for guidance on which paving projects should be undertaken first.

rbaldwin@buffnews.comnull