HAMMOND — Town officials voted 4-1 in favor of overriding a state-mandated property-tax cap following a public hearing Monday.

Town Supervisor Ronald W. Bertram and councilors James R. Tague, James C. Pitcher and Douglas E. Delosh voted in favor of the override. Councilor James E. Langtry voted against the measure.

“Everybody wants to cut taxes, but they are voting yes to raise them,” Mr. Langtry said. “I’ve got my feeling that we can come up with a budget without going above the cap.”

Mr. Bertram said that while the board may be able to stay within the state mandated cap, it would be prudent to pass the override before preparing the budget.

“A two percent increase on our budget would be around $1,700. That’s not even enough to cover our increase in retirement costs,” he said.

The 2011 town budget had a tax levy of approximately $87,000.

Mr. Bertram said the state’s effort to make towns fiscally responsible was actually costing the municipalities more money.

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