St. Lawrence County’s tentative budget would raise the tax levy by $194,792 from $47.6 million to $47.8 million, but drop the tax rate by 8 cents from $8.36 to $8.28.

According to an executive budget issued by County Administrator Ruth Doyle, spending will increase by more than $5 million from $183.4 million to $189.1 million. However, revenues are also expected to increase by $6.5 million.

The budget remains under the state mandated tax cap, which would have allotted a $2.1 million increase in the levy.

The plan will abolish the equivalent of about 6 full-time jobs, but will create roughly the same amount.

For the owners of $50,000 and $100,000 homes taxes paid to the county would drop by $3.17 and $6.33 respectively, under the spending proposal.

The budget also includes a return of $2.3 million to the county’s fund balance, allots funding for public works projects and funds reserves created in 2018.

The budget is only tentative at this time and has not yet been finalized by the county.