By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- The Town Council is looking at a preliminary 2015 budget that, if passed, would raise town and village tax bills by 4 percent.

“No one wants to see his or her taxes increased but I believe that is unavoidable in this budget,” Town Supervisor Joseph Gray told the board on Wednesday, reading from a prepared statement.

The proposed tax rate for those living in the village is $4.41 per $1,000 of assessed value. The owner of a $50,000 property would be taxed $220.50, which is $9 more than last year. The owner of a $100,000 property would be billed $441, which is $18 more than last year.

The proposed rate for those living outside the village is $4.79 per $1,000 of assessed value. This means a $50,000 property would be taxed $239.50. The owner of a $100,000 property would owe $479.

Last year’s budget reduced taxes for residents outside the village by 14 percent and 5 percent for those within the boundary.

“In retrospect, it may have been a mistake to actually cut taxes last year. Likewise, I think it would be a mistake to have no tax increase this year,” Gray said.

If the town can cut another $27,170 form the budget, then Massena taxpayers with children under age 17 will receive checks for about $30 as a state tax-freeze incentive. After that discussion, the board decided to delay voting to override the 2-percent tax cap. They have until Nov. 19 to approve the override and pass a final budget.

Gray spoke out against the incentive.

“It’s another example of Albany trying to make political positioning on the back of local government,” he said. “It makes local government … out to be the bad guy … it’s politics at its worst. Shame on them again.”

“Agreed,” Macaulay replied.

The town is spending $603,483.37 of its fund balance to mitigate the tax increase. Councilman John Macaulay said that leaves Massena with about $700,000 in its reserve fund.

Under the preliminary 2015 plan, the town is looking at general fund spending totaling $8,546,552.62.

Gray said he had to deny many requests for funding to keep spending at a level similar to last year.

“We can’t keep asking taxpayers to fund private agencies at a higher level each year,” Gray read from his statement, adding that governmental agencies had most of their requests for increased funding denied too.

When referring to non-governmental organizations, he cited as examples Meals on Wheels and the Massena Humane Society.

“I don’t like doing this, it’s just something we have to do,” Gray said.

He said there is a misconception that Massena has extra money to spend because of the casino compact.

“That is not the case,” he said, adding that the state only allows the cash to be used for economic development, alleviating any negative impact of the casino on town facilities and gambling addiction awareness or treatment.