Auburn City Council has taken its first formal step toward potentially overriding New York State’s two-percent tax levy cap as part of the city’s upcoming budget process.
According to City Clerk Chuck Mason, council members approved the first reading of a proposed local law that would allow the city to exceed the state’s allowable tax cap if necessary.
Appearing on Friday’s “FLX Morning,” Mason said the council also voted 3-0 Thursday night to schedule a public hearing on the proposed local law. Councilor Jimmy Diego abstained from the vote, while Michael Quill was excused from the meeting.
Mason said the public hearing on the proposed override law will be held May 28, the same evening as the city’s budget public hearing.
“So as part of the city’s budget process, consideration of exceeding the New York state allowable tax cap of 2% of the levy is under consideration by the council,” Mason said.
He explained that after the public hearing, council members could vote on the local law either that night or at the June 4 council meeting. Mason noted that if the city ultimately decides to exceed the tax cap, the local law must be adopted before the city budget is approved.
City officials have not yet indicated whether the council intends to move forward with overriding the cap, saying additional discussion is expected in the coming weeks.
