Richard Moody is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Columbia County Board of Supervisors December 12, adopted its proposed $156.5 million 2019 budget on a vote of 20 to 1. The spending plan includes a 1.7 tax levy increase for county property owners. Clermont Town Supervisor Raymond Staats cast the lone dissenting vote, questioning the necessity of a tax increase at a time when the county's revenues and cash reserves continue to rise. “I am the most senior supervisor on the board and I have more trouble this year than ever before with approving a budget that raises taxes yet again,” Staats said. “We have continued to raise taxes every year, not to balance our budget, but to build our bank account. I know it is time to give the taxpayers a break.” County revenue increased by $5 million in 2018, in large part due to increased sales tax income. County Controller Ronald Caponera said the tax levy increase will have a minimal impact on taxpayers, arguing the average amount that property owners pay will stay nearly the same, at about $6 per $1,000 of assessed value. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.