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Tentative St. Lawrence County 2015 budget calls for 3.9 percent property tax hike

Posted 10/9/14

By JIMMY LAWTON St. Lawrence County residents can expect a 3.9 percent hike in county property taxes, on top of the 1 percent sales tax increase implemented last year. This is actually less than the …

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Tentative St. Lawrence County 2015 budget calls for 3.9 percent property tax hike

Posted

By JIMMY LAWTON

St. Lawrence County residents can expect a 3.9 percent hike in county property taxes, on top of the 1 percent sales tax increase implemented last year.

This is actually less than the 2 percent tax cap, which is 4.6 percent using the state's formula.

The $232,892,104 tentative spending plan would increase the tax levy from $45.4 million to $47.2 million.

The tax rate will increase from $8.36 to $8.54 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

The levy increased despite in drop of expenditures from $234.1 million to $232.9 million. That is due to a drop in revenue from $188.7 million from $185.6 million.

No fund balance was used in the budget from $6.5 to $7.8 million.

St. Lawrence County Administrator Karen St. Hilaire said the budget is on target with the county's five-year plan, which calls for improving the fund balance, remaining below the state's tax cap and increased scrutiny on spending.

St. Hilaire credited department heads, employees and legislators for making the budget possible.

“Employees have been absolute partners in this. We wouldn’t be where we are today if they weren’t willing to make some tough sacrifices,” she said.

The budget estimates $180,000 in savings in staffing costs due to position adjustments.

Hilaire said the budget calls for an increase in fund balance from $6.5 million, to $7.8 million.

“I am hopeful that will continue to grow to $12 million so that the county no longer has to borrow money. I am hopeful they can do that in the next three years,” she said.

St. Hilaire said the county increased expenditures the for St. Lawrence County jail in the 2015 budget, after several budget modifications were made in the current fiscal year due to rising expenses.

St. Hilaire said an increase in inmate sickness was a driving factor for the rising costs. St. Hilaire also said the number of inmates is also hard to predict making the budgeting processes difficult.

She said the county was not raising the employee health benefits budgeted amount of $21 million as the county actually came in nearly $1 million under budget in health care expenses for 2014.

“I have a budget team of eight people who have worked very hard on this,” she said. “It’s a realistic budget and I think it’s a good budget.”

St. Lawrence County legislators still have time to modify the budget before approving the final spending plan.