Lewis County Legislature adopts local law to override 2% tax cap; approves claims and accepts public-defense grant

The Lewis County Board of Legislators voted to adopt Local Law No. 7-2025, overriding the 2% tax levy limit established by General Municipal Law §3‑c for the county’s 2026 budget, and approved two other routine financial measures during its meeting.

The adoption of the local law (resolution 209) was approved by roll call; the full board voted in favor. The board also audited and allowed claims in the amount of $2,229,752.76 (resolution 192) and accepted and appropriated FY25–26 public defense provider grant funds (resolution 211).

The local-law vote followed discussion about whether to keep the public hearing open until the county manager presents a final budget. County Manager Tim said he planned to present a budget that would come in under the tax cap but asked the legislature to leave the override hearing open for up to a month “so that when we present the budget, if there's any legislative ask... it's still available to us,” and clarified he did not expect to need the override. The board proceeded to adopt the local law at the meeting.

Roll-call and recusal details recorded on the floor show the following recorded votes and recusals for the claims audit (resolution 192): - Yes: Tom Kalmus; Leyendecker; Morehan; Nellenback; Frost; Norts; Levicker; Osborne; Dollhoff (chair). - Mosher: abstained. - Moser: recused (recusal stated on the floor because payments cited had been made to the recusing legislator). Tally recorded on the floor: yes 9, abstain 1, recused 1. The motion to audit and allow claims was carried.

For Local Law No. 7‑2025 (resolution 209) the clerk called the roll and the board members present recorded “yes” votes; the motion carried. The transcript shows each legislator present voting in the affirmative during roll call (Kalamus, Norts, Leyendecker, Osborne, Levicker, Morehan, Nellenback, Frost, Mosher, Dollhoff).

On resolution 211, accepting and appropriating FY25–26 public defense provider grant funds, one legislator stated on the record that they would recuse themselves because approximately 5% of the grant funds would be distributed to that legislator’s firm (identified on the floor). The resolution was then approved by voice vote.

The board handled the remaining resolutions as a consent packet except where individual items were pulled for separate votes. The meeting adjourned after the resolutions and no executive session was announced.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 192 — Auditing and allowing claims in the amount of $2,229,752.76: moved by Tom Kalmus; second not specified on the record for the roll call; outcome: approved; recorded votes: yes 9, abstain 1, recused 1 (names as recorded above). Note: a legislator recused due to payments made to them as the assigned counsel/administrator. - Resolution 209 — Adopt Local Law No. 7‑2025 (override of General Municipal Law §3‑c 2% tax cap for the 2026 budget): mover/second not specified on the record; outcome: approved by roll call (members recorded yes as listed above). - Resolution 211 — Accept and appropriate FY25–26 public defense provider grant funds: mover not specified; second by Herb; one legislator recused on the record because ~5% of the grant would be distributed to their firm; outcome: approved by voice vote.

Sources: on-the-record roll calls and statements during the Lewis County Board of Legislators meeting (transcript entries at the meeting).