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Cairo considers overriding tax levy

Oct 06, 2022 1:03 pm

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup about Cairo's Oct. 3 public hearing on a proposal to override the state’s tax cap in the 2023 town budget. Towns are required to hold a public hearing if they want to raise taxes more than two percent. “We have to do this, it’s just in case,” Cairo Town Supervisor Jason Watts said. “I can’t even tell you the numbers yet, I can tell you a lot of stuff has increased,” he said. “I do know of one, our worker’s comp insurance went up $130,000. And utility companies are telling us to go up at least 66 percent... I have no numbers though for tonight.” Citizens at the public hearing looked to avoid raising the tax levy too much, asking about salary increases, past spending on real estate, the library budget, and fund balance. The board did not vote on any tax increases, as Watts said the board the tentative budget will likely be presented first at their November 7 meeting. Before then, Cairo residents can attend two special town board meetings on October 12 and October 13, both at 5 p.m., to discuss individual department budgets. Read the full story at Porcupine Soup.