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Franklin County holds public hearings on 2024 tentative budget and proposed local law to override tax levy limit
Summary
On Nov. 9, 2023 the Franklin County Legislature held public hearings on the proposed 2024 tentative budget—with total appropriations of $127,358,082 and a proposed tax levy of $18,237,000—and on a companion local law authorizing an override of the statutory tax levy limit; public commenters requested more library funding and asked about surplus buses for a Tupper Lake shuttle.
The Franklin County Legislature on Nov. 9 held two successive public hearings on the county’s 2024 tentative budget and a proposed local law to authorize adoption of a 2024 budget that would exceed the statutory tax levy limit.
Vice‑Chairwoman Andrea Dumas opened the budget hearing at 4:00 p.m., and Clerk Penny A. Premo read the legal notice outlining where the full proposed budget could be inspected and how residents could submit written or oral comments. The tentative budget lists total appropriations across county funds at $127,358,082, with Net Revenue from Taxes of $17,963,500 and a Total Tax Levy of $18,237,000; the allowance for uncollected taxes is $273,500. The notice also lists statutory salary maximums for members of the County Legislature ($20,000) and the Chairman ($23,000).
County Manager Donna Kissane and County Treasurer Frances Perry presented a PowerPoint overview of the budget. They said major challenges include workforce recruitment and retention, unfunded state mandates and county infrastructure needs such as road maintenance and repair. They highlighted a positive bond outlook, an improved fund balance (described as a “no stress” designation), an increased health insurance reserve, continued highway infrastructure work and settlement of the Teamsters contract. County leaders identified priorities for 2024 including public health and safety, maintaining fiscal oversight, and pursuing operational efficiencies.
During the public comment period two representatives from the Clinton, Essex & Franklin Library System thanked the Legislature for past support and requested an increase in county funding for 2024. A WebEx participant from Tupper Lake described local plans to start a shuttle system and asked whether any surplus county buses were available; the participant also thanked county staff for an increased presence in local offices. The Legislature thanked presenters and commenters and adjourned the budget hearing at 4:36 p.m.
At 4:37 p.m. Dumas opened a separate hearing on a proposed local law “overriding the tax levy limit for Franklin County for 2024,” which the draft states is necessary to comply with General Municipal Law Section 3‑c (5) if the county adopts a budget requiring a levy greater than the calculated limit. The proposed law includes severability language and an effective‑date provision that takes effect when a certified copy is filed with the Secretary of State under Municipal Home Rule Law Section 27. Dumas explained the local law is an annual, precautionary procedural step and noted the tentative budget is under the 2% tax cap. No members of the public spoke on the local law and Dumas closed that hearing at 4:40 p.m.
No formal vote or legislative action on the proposed local law was recorded in the hearing transcript; the hearings provided notice, an opportunity for public comment, and the Legislature’s presentation of the tentative 2024 budget. The full tentative budget and the text of the proposed local law were made available to the public as described in the notices.
