WHEATFIELD — Property owners would see a tax decrease of about $41 next year in Supervisor Timothy E. Demlerrs proposed 2010 budget that cuts spending by almost $750,000.

Demler said his budget plan, which he submitted to the town clerk Wednesday, totals about $11.25 million; the 2009 budget was $12 million.

The spending plan was issued the same day that town Budget Director Udit K. Sharma resigned a $45,000-a-year post he had held only since April.

Demler, who lost a Republican primary Sept. 15 and will not appear on the Nov. 3 election ballot, also said Friday there is an effort to re-elect him as a write-in candidate. He said he did not organize that effort but added, "I am not dissuading them."

Robert B. Cliffe is the Republican candidate for supervisor and Sam Conti is the Democratic nominee.

Demler said after Sharma left, Winston Moeller, a former budget director who still heads the townrs budget committee, went over the final numbers with him.

Demler said his budget team "cut the fat out of the general budget" and was able to return a property tax cut to residents.

The 2009 budget was the only time in his 14 years as supervisor Demler was unable to provide a tax cut. The proposed reductions for 2010 would not affect services but would maintain programs such as enhanced police patrols, he said."

Next year, nearly $1.6 million is slated to go toward sewer bond payments, an effort Demler said he tries to continue each year. One sewer bond was retired this week and two more will be next year.

"I believe werll have only about $12 million [in bonded debt] left," he said.

The tax reduction would come in the form of a cut in the sewer tax on each home. This year, homeowners paid $1.81 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. In 2010, the rate will be $1.39 per $1,000.

The cut in the master sewer rate actually should produce a savings of $62 a home, but Demler said the fire protection budget has increased, and that would offset about a third of the savings. Fire protection charges would rise about 13 cents per $1,000 to $1.28 — the only budget area that increased, Demler noted.

Another feature in the budget is the remaining surplus, set at $600,000. Demler noted that he did not use any of the surplus to balance the 2010 budget.

The budget proposal will be presented to the Town Board for discussion and approval by November. The board is scheduled to meet for a bill-paying session Monday.