Supervisors OK tax cap override

WAMPSVILLE » With some pointed words at New York state government, the Madison County Board of Supervisors passed legislation that will allow it to override the state-imposed tax cap.

In 2012, the state enacted a cap on how much local governments can increase their property taxes. The 2 percent limit is calculated each year based on factors like inflation; this year, Madison County is restricted to a 2.5 percent hike in its tax levy, unless the board opts to override it.

After a public hearing at its meeting Tuesday, the board voted to override the cap, giving it the option - but not making it mandatory - that it can increase taxes in surplus of a 2.5 percent increase in the levy.

Chairman John Becker made it clear that Madison County isn’t going to play by the state’s prescribed rules, calling the tax cap “nothing but a farce.” The 2 percent cap is an artificial number generated by the state while the state continues to push unfunded mandates in contradiction to the purpose of the cap, Becker said.

For example, in 2000, the county was required to contribute $40,000 toward state pension costs. This year, that cost will skyrocket to $4.5 million.

“And we’re not supposed to override the tax cap,” Becker asked. “Mismanagement on the state’s part is not our fault. It’s important to let the state know we’re not going to comply with their bologna until they get their act together.”

Resident Eileen Kinsella implored the board to consider other options to avoid an override. While she said she understood the county’s predicament with funding, she said the cap was intended to help taxpayers, particularly those with lower incomes. She also pointed to the unfunded mandates as programs and services a significant num-

ber of residents use and inquired how the new tax laws would impact the tax cap.

Kinsella asked the county to look at other ways to balance the budget, like sharing services, and asked that it not take money away from any of the non-profits the county supports.

Becker said as the county gears up for budget season, it’s aiming to avoid increasing the levy at all. The county has been able to do that in past years but Becker said they spent the following years playing catch-up.

There will likely be a nominal increase in property taxes but not enough to warrant overriding the cap, he said. If the cap isn’t overridden, the board will rescind the legislation it passed Tuesday.

Brookfield Supervisor John Salka voted against the tax cap override.