Correction: An earlier version of this story stated the council passed a resolution allowing the city to exceed the state's imposed tax cap. In fact, the council called for a public hearing that would allow the resolution to be passed at a later date. NorthCountryNow.com regrets this error.

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg City Council called for a public hearing that would be necessary to allow the city to exceed the state's tax cap.

The hearing will be held Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Councilor Michael Morley said the council was working to pass a budget that would stay under the cap, but said the resolution was necessary as a precaution.

To meet the state cap this year, the city would need to pass a budget that raises taxes by no more than .79 percent.

Although the council is still preparing the budget, the tentative $9,561,656 plan would reduce the tax levy by $159,000 and raise the tax rate by about 1.5 percent.

The proposed general fund budget will increase by 1.5 percent from $12,808,086 to $13,001,827. The tax rate will increase 15 cents from $17.21 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $17.36.

City residents will also see an increase in their water rate from $318 to $334 per year. Those with metered rates will see an increase of 19 cents for a total $4.11 per $1,000 gallons. The sewer rate will not increase.

The largest expenses to the city continue to be emergency services.

Spending on city police accounts for about 28.9 percent of total general fund spending for a total of $3.76 million.

Ogdensburg fire services accounts for 27.16 percent of total general fund spending for a total of $3.53 million.

Public works comes in third with 17.2 percent of the total general fund spending for a total of $2.35 million.