by Kristina Gabalski
Clarkson Town Board members have adopted a 2013 budget that includes a 1.9 percent increase in the tax levy, within the two percent state mandated property tax cap.
Supervisor Paul Kimball said total appropriations in the budget are $2.88 million with $1.13 million to be covered by the tax levy. The 2013 tax rate is $3.68/$1,000 assessed valuation, up seven cents from the 2012 budget.
Despite coming in under the tax cap, board members also passed a local law to exceed the cap.
Town Attorney Richard Olson advised the measure to cover the town in the event. “The folks in the state comptroller’s office say we exceed it,” he said.
Supervisor Kimball noted that the Town of Ogden – where the tax levy is going down – passed the same local law, “out of fear the comptroller’s office might be changing the numbers.”
“We don’t change the budget after tonight,” he explained, noting there has been some concern from residents that the town was passing the law to exceed the cap in order to make a change in the levy down the line. The 1.9 percent increase will not be altered.
Town board members separately passed additional resolutions regarding special districts in the town which will exceed the 2 percent cap.
Olson and Kimball explained only people in the eight districts will be affected.
The districts are mostly lighting districts and Kimball says the increases in those districts come directly from Niagara Mohawk – the town has no control over them.
