Steuben County taxpayers will see their taxes go up an average of 23 cents per $1,000 assessed value next year, with county legislators passing the 2013 budget of $187 million Monday night.
The increase, from the current $8.66 per $1,000 to $8.89 per $1,000 next year, means the owner of a $100,000 property will pay $23 more next year.
However, the wide range of assessments means property owners in some municipalities will see different rates due to a state formula designed to equalize property taxes.
County officials said the change in tax rates is largely due to a drop in assessed property values due to the current glut of natural gas. Those values are down because existing wells are not producing, and has nothing to do with proposed hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale, officials said.
But legislators were able to stay keep the tax levy of $48 million within the state property tax cap by appropriating $50,000 from county reserves.
Half of the proposed levy will go to pay Medicaid and welfare costs, other state-mandated charges, such as pensions and community college subsidies, add another 45 percent to the levy, according to the preliminary budget.
There were few comments by legislators during the 30-minute meeting, but a public comment from county employee Michelle Benincasa on salary increases sparked some remarks later by the lawmakers.
Benincasa objected to any raises for any county employee, including the union, saying even a little one could cost someone a job.
She singled out a proposed double-digit raise for the absent county Administrator Mark Alger, saying she wondered what the justification for the increase was when money was so tight and times were so hard.
Legislator Scott Van Etten, R-Caton said Alger was effectively the chief operating officer of $187 million company and has done an “exemplary” job.
“Our intent is to keep him as long as we can,” VanEtten said. “He did not ask for this raise. We as a legislature went to him and gave it to him.”
Alger’s salary was not included in the list of department head wage increases voted on later by legislators.
County Legislature Chairman Joe Hauryski, R-Campbell said Alger’s new four-year contract called for a 2.5 percent increase during the next two years, followed by 3 percent increases after that.
However, Legislator Aaron Mullen, R-Avoca said he could not vote for what he termed “blanket increases” for management.
County Deputy Administrator Jack Wheeler said raises for department heads were based on evaluations and not automatic, while Legislator Pat McAllister, R-Wayland pointed out union members have received contractual wage increases, with some members’ salaries now rivaling their supervisor’s wages.
Steuben County taxpayers will see their taxes go up an average of 23 cents per $1,000 assessed value next year, with county legislators passing the 2013 budget of $187 million Monday night.
The increase, from the current $8.66 per $1,000 to $8.89 per $1,000 next year, means the owner of a $100,000 property will pay $23 more next year.
However, the wide range of assessments means property owners in some municipalities will see different rates due to a state formula designed to equalize property taxes.
County officials said the change in tax rates is largely due to a drop in assessed property values due to the current glut of natural gas. Those values are down because existing wells are not producing, and has nothing to do with proposed hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale, officials said.
But legislators were able to stay keep the tax levy of $48 million within the state property tax cap by appropriating $50,000 from county reserves.
Half of the proposed levy will go to pay Medicaid and welfare costs, other state-mandated charges, such as pensions and community college subsidies, add another 45 percent to the levy, according to the preliminary budget.
There were few comments by legislators during the 30-minute meeting, but a public comment from county employee Michelle Benincasa on salary increases sparked some remarks later by the lawmakers.
Benincasa objected to any raises for any county employee, including the union, saying even a little one could cost someone a job.
She singled out a proposed double-digit raise for the absent county Administrator Mark Alger, saying she wondered what the justification for the increase was when money was so tight and times were so hard.
Legislator Scott Van Etten, R-Caton said Alger was effectively the chief operating officer of $187 million company and has done an “exemplary” job.
“Our intent is to keep him as long as we can,” VanEtten said. “He did not ask for this raise. We as a legislature went to him and gave it to him.”
Alger’s salary was not included in the list of department head wage increases voted on later by legislators.
County Legislature Chairman Joe Hauryski, R-Campbell said Alger’s new four-year contract called for a 2.5 percent increase during the next two years, followed by 3 percent increases after that.
However, Legislator Aaron Mullen, R-Avoca said he could not vote for what he termed “blanket increases” for management.
County Deputy Administrator Jack Wheeler said raises for department heads were based on evaluations and not automatic, while Legislator Pat McAllister, R-Wayland pointed out union members have received contractual wage increases, with some members’ salaries now rivaling their supervisor’s wages.
