Granville board directs attorney to draft 1% gross receipts tax on utilities; public hearing set for Dec. 2

The Granville Village Board on Nov. 4 directed the village attorney to draft proposed local legislation to impose a 1% gross receipts tax on utilities that use the village right-of-way and authorized a public hearing on the measure for Monday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at the Village Municipal Center.

Clerk-Treasurer Rick Roberts told the board that many municipalities in New York use a gross receipts fee to supplement non-tax revenues and described the proposed charge as a 1% fee on power and telephone suppliers that operate in the village right-of-way. "This tax amounts to a 1% fee collected from utilities that utilize the Village right of way, namely power and telephone suppliers," Roberts said, adding that the proposed fee would be similar in composition to the village’s cable franchise fee but smaller in rate (1% versus 5% for Spectrum).

Mayor Paul Labas framed the discussion as part of early work on the 2025–26 budget, saying inflationary pressures on retirement costs, property insurance, health insurance and commodities are making it difficult to remain tax-cap compliant. Roberts told the board that the village has already reduced staff in recent years (DPW from eight full‑time to six and the police department from six to five) and that non-property tax revenue options like the gross receipts tax were being considered to help retain current services.

Trustee Denise Davies moved to direct the Village Attorney to draft the legislation and authorized the Clerk-Treasurer to advertise the Dec. 2 public hearing; Trustee Dean Hyatt seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

The next procedural step is the advertised public hearing, at which residents may comment on the draft local law. The board did not adopt the law on Nov. 4; it only authorized drafting language and a hearing date.