BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- The Massena Town Board has adopted a preliminary budget that includes a significant increase in the tax rate and levy, exceeding the 2% tax cap, but officials say they are hopeful more cuts can be made to lower the price tab for taxpayers. 

As currently proposed, village residents with a home valued at $90,000 would see a tax rate increase of 92 cents per $1,000 in assessed value, rising from $6.53 to $7.45. 

That equates to an additional $82.20 in property taxes for 2027. 

For town residents outside of the village, rates will increase even more under the preliminary spending plan, with an increase of $1.65 per $1,000 in assessed value, up from $8.01 to $9.66 per $1,000. 

That equates to an additional $148.50 in property taxes. 

Rising costs and stagnating sales tax, coupled with a largely flat tax base are major contributing factors, town officials said. 

Coupled with a significant trailing liability stemming from the 2020 sale of Massena Memorial Hospital, officials may have to take major steps to curb the budget. 

Deputy Supervisor Sam Carbone previously said the town board planned to address the debt with state officials, however the debt remains and town officials continue to plan on spending $383,214.24 annually over a 30-year amortization schedule. 

Town officials shot down a plan in December 2025 to spend nearly $2 million from a lawsuit settlement to curb the debt, which was in excess of $5 million at the time. 

During recent budget sessions, town board members said department heads would continue to meet with the board and weigh options to further trim budgets. 

Last week, Code Enforcement Officer Pat O'Brien offered a proposal that could save the town several thousand dollars. 

He said the town code office could see a change in the software used to bring some savings to the town. 

“The first part relates to the iWork software that we use for code enforcement, which will result in a net reduction. Not a lot, but a little,” O’Brien said.

He said the software operates with four modules, including an online portal that could potentially be eliminated to save money. 

O'Brien said there was "literally no use to it" and noted when it does get used, it typically is for individuals who believe they are applying for a permit in the village of Massena. 

"So we’re paying for an online portal that people are using to fill out village permits that the village doesn’t accept," he said. 

Though cutting one module could save money, O'Brien also spoke on mileage reimbursement, saying he would need to request repayment with gas prices as high as they are now. 

In the two-and-a-half years he has been on the job, O'Brien said he only requested reimbursement twice. 

"That all comes out of my pocket. I just want to give you a heads-up that my mileage is going to start going in because I have to recoup some cost," he said. 

He said he expected that cost to come in between $1,200 and $1,500 per year. 

During a budget session for the Town Court, Justices Eric Sharlow and Joe Brown both requested moderate pay increases as well to offset the cost of inflation. 

Both presented a modest budget that saw costs remain largely unchanged but did note the town would have to consider bulk purchases for office supplies to keep costs down. 

Library officials also presented a budget that was largely unchanged year-over-year, saying grant funding and donations helped offset a number of costs that were slated to increase. 

A boiler replacement project also saw a significant boost recently with a state grant totaling $617,738 to aid in the project. 

Director Krista Briggs told board members previously the project would likely cost between $825,000 and $950,000. 

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