Budget changes put levy increase close to $3m

CANTON — Lawmakers' changes so far to St. Lawrence County's proposed 2010 budget pushed the planned tax levy increase close to $3 million and raised the true value tax rate by another 3 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.

County Administrator Karen M. St. Hilaire said Friday those figures take into account only budget changes lawmakers have approved. Legislators have not yet reviewed additional cost-cutting requests, including that the Highway Department trim $1 million and the Public Health Department cut $300,000 from next year's spending plan.

Legislators have restored $407,000 for retirees' Medicare Part B health coverage reimbursement and funding for outside agencies, and added $100,000 for a recreational trail coordinator position.

Ms. St. Hilaire said those spending increases have been partially offset by a $175,000 cut to a Board of Legislators contingency budget, by revenue from a tobacco grant, by $207,000 in Medicaid reimbursement for Public Health services and by minor adjustments to more accurately reflect expenses and revenues in various departments.

"At this moment, after the things they have taken out and put back in, we are $155,629 above where we were with the tentative budget," Ms. St. Hilaire said.

That amount will be added to next year's tax levy, bringing the proposed increase in the amount to be collected through taxes to $2,955,629.

Ms. St. Hilaire said the additional spending raises the proposed tax rate from $8.14 to $8.17 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

None of the changes so far is set in stone. Legislators will have to give final approval to the revised budget before they hold a public hearing and formally adopt it. The public hearing is slated for Nov. 23.

The Legislature's next budget discussion will be at 4 p.m. Monday at the County Courthouse.