PROPOSED LOCAL LAW B (NO. ) FOR THE YEAR 2007 ESTABLISHING THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR COLD WAR VETERANS IN ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY

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1 St. Lawrence County Public Hearing Board of Legislators Monday, November 26, 2007 Board Room 6:40 p.m. PROPOSED LOCAL LAW B (NO. ) FOR THE YEAR 2007 ESTABLISHING THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR COLD WAR VETERANS IN ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY Chair Turbett called the Public Hearing to order at 6:41 p.m. The Deputy Clerk read the call to the Public Hearing. BE IT ENACTED by the Board of Legislators of St. Lawrence County as follows: Section 1. Section 2. In accordance with the provisions of Section 458-b of the Real property Tax Law of the State of New York, real property owned by one or more persons, each of whom is a Cold War Veteran as defined by New York State Real property Tax Law, Section 458-b shall be exempt from county taxation to the extent of 15% of the assessed valuation. This Local Law, in every case, shall conform to State Law. Section 3. This local law will take effect no later than ninety days before the taxable status date next occurring on or after the thirty-first of December, two thousand seven, after a public hearing. Chair Turbett asked if anyone wished to comment. No one commented. Ms. Brothers said this exemption, lest anyone forget that we surveyed Veterans groups and discussed at previous Finance Committee 20 of 21 groups were supportive Mr. Peck moved to adjourn the Public Hearing at 6:45 p.m. seconded by Mr. Morrill and carried by a voice vote. St. Lawrence County Public Hearing Board of Legislators Monday, November 26, 2007 Board Room 6:50 p.m. Chair Turbett called the Public Hearing to order at 6:50 p.m. The Deputy Clerk read the call to the Public Hearing. Chair Turbett asked if anyone wished to comment. Pat Green, Lisbon, said there is $24 million in the kitty, and suggested lowering the tax rate and raising the tax levy. He said he has spoken with the Treasurer about foreclosures, and mentioned the amounts he owed on land taxes and back taxes. He said with $24/5 million, the County isn t short on money. He said there was an amount taken above and beyond what was owed. He said

2 there was a time when people were behind but not charged for back taxes. He said this county is not in business to make money and said he doubts people foreclosed on were rich people. He said we all come into these Chambers and pass WWII memorial. He mentioned Christ and taxes and destroying the hearthstones of our fathers with $24/5 million in the bank. He mentioned County Employees making money and adding $1.2 million to the bank for Government. Joanne Fashinger, Library Committee, on behalf of all the Libraries in St. Lawrence County said she would like to thank the Board of Legislators for their support. This budget, if passed, would allow us to provide services to residents and the tourists in the area. She said the increased funding provides more services which are valuable to the local hamlets and villages. She said she has a letter from a local novelist who utilized the Canton Free Library to work on his project. He said he has written most of his work on Park Street in Canton. Mr. Morrill moved to adjourn the Public Hearing at 6:45 p.m. seconded by Mr. Peck and carried by a voice vote. St. Lawrence County Special Board Meeting Board of Legislators Monday, November 26, 2007 Board Room 7:00 p.m. Chair Turbett called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. ROLL CALL: All Legislators were present with the exception of Mr. FitzRandolph. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION: No one wished to speak. PRESENTATION OF A RESOLUTION RESOLUTION NO ADOPTION OF THE 2008 BUDGET By Ms. Brothers, Chair, Finance Committee WHEREAS, the Budget Officer s 2008 Tentative Budget has been reviewed by the Finance Committee, and WHEREAS, the Board, at a Special Meeting on November 19, 2007, modified the 2008 Tentative Budget as recommended by the Finance Committee, and WHEREAS, a Public Hearing on the 2008 Tentative Budget, As Modified, was held on November 26, 2007, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the 2008 Tentative Budget, As Modified, is hereby adopted with said budget requiring the raising by real property taxes in the amount of $37,499,571, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the St. Lawrence County 2008 Tentative Budget, As Modified, be distributed in the funds as per Exhibit A and Exhibit B of said budget, and

3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators directs that the Clerk of the Board of Legislators establish the St. Lawrence County Tax Levy for the year 2008 in the amount of $37,499,571. EXHIBIT A: 2008 BUDGET SUMMARY CATEGORY APPROPRIATIONS TOTAL BUDGET General Government Support $ 42,177,463 Education 707,350 Public Safety 14,774,079 Health 21,027,206 Transportation 22,311,960 Economic Development 5,289,152 Social Services 58,061,184 Culture & Recreation 324,008 Home & Community Services 4,951,704 Undistributed 39,021,087 EXHIBIT B: TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS $208,645,193 CATEGORY REVENUES Departmental Revenues $ 65,658,679 State Aid 25,667,885 Federal Aid 18,177,013 Sales Tax 40,170,000 Appropriated Surplus 7,717,804 Inter-Fund Transfers 13,754,241 Amount to be Raised by Taxes 37,499,571 TOTAL REVENUE $208,645, Final Adopted Budget

4 Fin Com and Fin Com and Budget Element Adopted Tentative FIN COMM Tentative Budget 2007 Adopted COUNTY COST 43,306,146 45,224,322 45,217,375-6,947 1,911,229 Appropriated Surplus 7,021,894 7,717,804 7,717, ,910 Proposed Levy 36,284,252 37,506,518 37,499,571-6,947 1,215,319 Assessed Valuation 4,232,587,053 4,444,651,764 4,444,651, ,064,711 Estimated Tax Rate per $1000 AV $ $ $ Change in County Cost 4.43% 4.41% -0.02% Change in Appropriated Surplus 9.91% 9.91% 0.00% Change in Levy 3.37% 3.35% -0.02% Change in True Value Tax Rate -1.56% -1.58% -0.02% Ms. Brothers moved to adopt Resolution No , seconded by Mr. Morrill. Mr. MacKinnon read a listing of the tax levy, rate, and percentage since 2004 of the Appropriated Fund Balance. He said the Budget, as written, is growing the Fund Balance and he has always been an advocate of a sufficient Fund Balance. Mr. Nichols moved to find the True Value Tax Rate to the 2007 rate, the 2006 rate, and the 2005 rate, seconded by Mr. Grow. Mr. Nichols said over 1.7 million dollars and Fund Balance will grow 1.2 million dollars and said we will discuss getting the fuel tax off again. He said he will be support funding and there is plenty of money. Mr. Morrill said he is proud of the Budget. This is the first one he has had anything to do with it. He said corrections were made in this Budget and still bringing a tax rate decrease and said he believes the amendment would prevent us from addressing important issues. Mr. Paquin asked Mr. McNeil about our option to pass the fuel tax and, if not Ogdensburg, then could we reduce the True Value tax rate if we wanted. Mr. McNeil said not actually because tax bills go out in December. Mr. Paquin said we either lower the levy or reduce the tax on fuel. He if we reduce the levy for 2008 to the 2007 level, one person with a $100,000 house would save $27 dollars. He said if you focus more on sales tax than on heating that would save $30 on a $1,000bill and when money can be saved it should. He said those who do not make much money spend more on heating and the basics of living and it would stand to reason that if we are going to reduce costs it should be those who need it the most. He said focusing on fuel instead of sales tax

5 would better see our attention. He said you wish you could do both but was advised by the Budget Officer not to. He said he hopes Ogdensburg will work with us. Mr. Peck asked Mr. McNeil if some of this funding could go to special Capital Projects. Mr. McNeil said the HAVA issue is in Federal Court and we could see sizable costs. He said one reason both should not be done is that we are going to have to start paying the $30 million back on the bonds. He said the 2008 debt service is paid for through interest earning on bonds and proceeds which will go away and he will look in 2009 to increase debt service allocation by $1.5 million. He said he hopes that sales tax growth would help but that differential is the change in next year s budget. Mr. Turbett said he will weigh in as he has not spoken and said he would rather see sales tax on heating fuel. He believes sales tax is much more aggressive than property tax. He explained how that works. He said the argument has been made that lowering the rate in the interest of assessments going up and he would attempt to relate that to sales tax and wondered how they could be reconciled. Mr. Nichols said in desperation to take away the fuel tax we compare that to taxes on property. He said not to dress it up; we are increasing spending by $1.2 million with a $25 million Fund Balance. If we get rid of the sales tax on heating we would not do it until March and then the many ifs for Ogdensburg will be clear. He said most sales tax is in the 1 st and the 4 th quarter. He said the bond payments for next year are already coming forward and were figured in and were covered by interest alone. He said we are not cutting the tax levy the $1.3 million. It will carry through next year and raise taxes to accommodate the jail again and again. He said that exact amount less $50,000 will be put in the Fund Balance. He said we have so much extra money in the Budget you could jump from an airplane and not get hurt because this Budget is so soft. Mr. MacKinnon said problem will support the reduction of the energy tax. He said Ogdensburg may not go for it. He said they did not agree with us and we would have to make it up somewhere. He said the other issue with sales tax is that there is no guarantee that the savings will be passed on. He said when you reduce taxes it will be guaranteed to go back to the property owner. He said there is no guarantee that, because you gave up your sales tax, you cannot be sure it will be passed on. He said he will support them both and it will guarantee at least the $1.2 million will be given back to the taxpayers and hopefully the fuel tax will be given back. Mr. Forsythe said it is presumptuous that the City will go along. Their Budget Hearing is tonight. He said he is much more in favor of keeping it exactly the same as last year. He said sales tax revenue is going to increase. He said if it is not going to take place until next year, it will do the right thing for the people. The amendment was defeated by a roll call vote with ten (10) no votes, four (4) yes votes, and one (1) Legislator absent (FitzRandolph). Resolution No carried by a roll call vote with ten (10) yes votes, four (4) no votes, and one (1) Legislator absent (FitzRandolph). Finance Committee:

6 RESOLUTION NO ADOPTING PROPOSED LOCAL LAW B (NO. ) FOR THE YEAR 2007 ESTABLISHING THE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR COLD WAR VETERANS IN ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY By Ms. Brothers, Chair, Finance Committee BE IT ENACTED by the Board of Legislators of St. Lawrence County as follows: Section 1. Section 2. Section 3. In accordance with the provisions of Section 458-b of the Real property Tax Law of the State of New York, real property owned by one or more persons, each of whom is a Cold War Veteran as defined by New York State Real property Tax Law, Section 458-b shall be exempt from county taxation to the extent of 15% of the assessed valuation. This Local Law, in every case, shall conform to State Law. This local law will take effect no later than ninety days before the taxable status date next occurring on or after the thirty-first of December, two thousand seven, after a public hearing. Ms. Brothers moved to adopt Resolution No , seconded by Mr. Morrill, and carried by a roll call vote with one (1) Legislator absent (FitzRandolph). Mr. Morrill moved to adjourn the Special Board Meeting, seconded by Mr. Peck, and carried by a voice vote with one (1) Legislator absent (FitzRandolph). Chair Turbett adjourned the Special Board Meeting at 7:23 p.m., as there was no further business.