RensCo budget under tax cap
TROY >> The Rensselaer County Legislature continued a five-year tradition Tuesday when it overwhelmingly approved a county budget that does not exceed the state-mandated limit on property tax increases.
At a special meeting Tuesday, legislators voted 13-5 in favor of a 2016 spending plan that carries a 1.88 percent increase in the tax levy after making only nominal changes to County Executive Kathy Jimino’s $331.1 million proposal.
“We are proud to once again adopt a budget that protects taxpayers and needed services and helps maintain the solid fiscal position earned by the county for accurate budgeting and responsible management,” said Stan Brownell, R-District 5, the Legislature’s chairman.
The county has yet to exceed the tax cap first imposed on local governments in 2011 by the state Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo despite the fact, Jimino pointed out, that county officials actually have little control over the vast majority of the spending plan.
“For the fifth straight year, we have created a county budget that will comply with the New York state tax cap law, even though state mandates consume 90 cents of every local tax dollar we raise,” Jimino said. “I want to thank the Legislature for their input and ultimate support of this spending plan that supports the local programs and services our residents rely upon that include those for our seniors and veterans, as well as to pave, plow and patrol our
streets.”
The one change county legislators did make to the final budget was to add about $121,000 for road repairs and improvements, but it did impact the tax levy because it was offset by a similar amount of grant money that was also added to anticipated revenue.
“Road repair, improvement and maintenance are some of the most important services provided by the county,” said Ken Herrington, the Legislature’s majority leader. “We would like to see more county roads improved and repaired in 2016,”
Officials said the adopted budget protects necessary county services and maintains a modest fund balance
to help protect those services in the future.
“This is a fiscally responsible budget that stays under the state tax cap despite some challenging economic conditions. The 2016 budget is a solid plan that will help encourage investment and new opportunity in the county,” said Phil Danaher, C-District 2, the group’s vice chairman for finance.