Gouverneur has public hearing to over-ride tax cap

GOUVERNEUR — The village Board of Trustees assured at a public hearing Thursday that it does not want to raise taxes but needs the option of being able to override the state’s 2 percent tax cap.

“If we have something huge and 2 percent won’t cut it, this allows an increase,” Mayor Christopher A. Miller said.

The public hearing is the first step in a process if the village wants to go over the cap. The board has not voted to approve an override.

Most of the comments from the roughly 15 people at the hearing were questions about how the cap worked and the board’s plans.

“We live in one of the highest-taxed states,” Jeremy Bartholomew said. “It’s every year and every year.”

The village has not had a tax increase in two years, Trustee Charles W. Newvine said.

“We are bare bones,” he said. “We can’t cut expenses any more.”

A 1 percent increase in the village tax levy would generate $12,800.

The village would like to keep taxes at status quo, Mr. Miller said.

“This is just a precautionary measure,” he said. “We have to make sure we have our foundation set.”

Many municipalities have approved an override in the tax levy as an insurance policy, considering health insurance premium increases as high as 18 percent and rising fuel costs, said town Supervisor Robert R. Ritchie, who was in the audience.