Property tax levy growth for North Country governments with fiscal years that close on Dec. 31 will be capped at 1.84 percent for the 2018 fiscal year, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

This figure affects the tax cap calculations for all counties, towns, fire districts, 44 cities and 10 villages in New York State, DiNapoli’s press statement said..

“After two years of tax growth being limited to less than one percent, inflation has crept up resulting in the highest allowable levy growth since 2013,” DiNapoli said. “This increase is offset by rising fixed costs and limited budget options. I continue to urge local officials to exercise caution when crafting their spending plans.”

The tax cap, which first applied to local governments in 2012, limits tax levy increases to the lesser of the rate of inflation or 2 percent with some exceptions, including a provision that allows municipalities to override the tax cap.

It was implemented at Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s initiative to drive property taxes down by limiting growth in property tax levies by local governments It does nothing to lower state taxes.

Although the growth factor climbed noticeably from the 0.68 percent cap in the current fiscal year, the 2018 fiscal year will be the fifth year in a row that local governments have had their levy growth capped at less than 2 percent.

By comparison, property tax levy growth for school districts was capped at 1.26 percent for the 2017-18 fiscal year.

For the list of allowable levy growth factors for all local governments, visit: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/realprop/pdf/inflation_allowablegrowthfactors.pdf.