Roger Hannigan Gilson is reporting in the Register-Star under the city of Hudson's proposed 2017 $13.4 million budget taxes are slated to increase by nearly 2 percent, less than the state-mandated cap of 4.7 percent. The plan also calls for a 2.5 percent increase in spending over the previous year. Additional spending includes $27,000 set aside for Common Council legal counsel, a new position. Resident Steve Dunn said at a recent public meeting he favors the new position. "You should have your own attorney who’s accountable to you all," Dunn said to the council, "and you set the priorities, not the mayor." Former Mayor Richard Scalera disagreed, calling the additional expense "a slap in the taxpayers’ face." He pointed to city law which gives the mayor the authority to appoint an attorney for the council. He asked Mayor Tiffany Martin Hamilton if she would waive that right and leave the selection up to the council. Hamilton agreed to waive the law. The budget also includes the acquisition of four new police cars and the hiring of a fourth dispatcher for the Hudson Police Department. The police vehicles will be leased from the Ford Motor Company, not purchased. The lease agreement would be more affordable than buying the cars outright and will also cover a "lot of the maintenance," Police Commissioner Martha Harvey said. Other increases include a 21 percent boost to cover more staff hours and programming at the Hudson Senior Center and $100,000 for the Fire Truck Capital Reserve Fund. Common Council will vote on the budget November 30. Read the full story in the Register-Star.