Clinton County opens public hearing on tentative 2025 budget, officials highlight lower tax rate

Unidentified Speaker 2 (presiding officer) opened a public hearing Dec. 4 on Clinton County’s tentative 2025 budget and said the plan carries a tax levy of $39,666,206.

"The tentative budget as printed presently contains a tax levy of $39,666,206," Unidentified Speaker 2 said, adding the levy is within the allowable property-tax cap and does not require an override.

The presiding officer also announced a resulting gross tax rate of $3.80 per $1,000 assessed value for 2025, down from $4.28 per $1,000 in 2024 — a reduction of $0.30 per $1,000. The notice and availability statement read by Unidentified Speaker 1 said copies of the tentative budget and the exemption report (pursuant to Real Property Tax Law §495) would be available at the Clerk of the Legislature’s office beginning Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 during normal business hours.

The legislature took a voice vote to open the hearing after a motion "by Francis" and a second "by Mark." No members of the public signed up to speak during the hearing.

Unidentified Speaker 1 corrected an earlier error in the notice about compensation, saying members' salaries are $24,000 and the chairperson's salary is $27,000. "Once, mister Rosario, you are correct," Unidentified Speaker 1 said when confirming the corrected figures.

After discussion of next steps, the legislature was told that a resolution adopting the tentative budget will be placed on the regular session agenda on Dec. 11 for final consideration. Unidentified Speaker 2 called for and received a motion "by Bob," seconded "by Kevin," and a voice vote to close the public hearing.

Unidentified Speaker 3 thanked staff and legislators for the work on the budget and urged readers not to judge the plan by the single-page summary. "So as I say, everybody's gonna look at the 1 page, but I think there's 500 pages," Unidentified Speaker 3 said, praising the team effort.

The hearing record includes the reading of statutory references (County Law §359 for salary limits and Real Property Tax Law §495 for the exemption report) and the announcement of where the tentative budget may be inspected. The legislature did not hold a roll-call vote on either motion recorded in the hearing; both opening and closing of the hearing were recorded as voice votes with "Aye" and no opposition noted.

Next procedural step: the legislature will consider a resolution to adopt the tentative 2025 budget at its scheduled Dec. 11 session. The Clerk’s office was identified as the location to inspect or procure the documents.