Clinton opens, then closes public hearing on local law to override tax-levy limit

Town of Clinton officials opened and later closed a public hearing on Oct. 14, 2025, on a proposed local law that would allow the town to override the state tax-levy limit for the 2026 fiscal year. The hearing was scheduled for 6:15 p.m. at Town Hall, 1215 Center Road in Rhinebeck.

Town Clerk read the published legal notice for "Local Law A of 2025, a local law to override the tax levy limit for fiscal year 2026 pursuant to New York General Municipal Law section 3-c," including the statement that "This local law will take effect immediately upon filing with the secretary of state." The presiding official said the town routinely passes the override law at budget time to preserve the option to exceed the state cap if needed.

The board voted by voice to open the floor for public comment and later voted by voice to close the public hearing; the meeting record does not list a numerical roll-call tally. The presiding official noted that Supervisor Michael Witten was out of town. The presiding official also said the town "doesn't do that, and we haven't done it in a long time," referring to actually exceeding the tax cap, but emphasized passing the local law preserves the option.

The transcript records a brief exchange with a person identified only as Lynn during the public-comment interval, but it does not record substantive testimony opposing or supporting the proposed local law. No formal adoption of Local Law A was recorded at this hearing in the provided transcript; the legal notice states that, if adopted, the law would take effect upon filing with the New York State Secretary of State.

The public hearing was the first of two hearings noted at the start of the meeting. After the hearing closed, the presiding official moved to adjourn the meeting and the motion carried.