Barre town board closes public hearing after tax-levy override pegged at 2.4763%

The Barre Town Board closed a public hearing on a proposed local law to override the town's property tax levy limit after the board recorded the override percentage as 2.4763%.

At the meeting, the chair read a public notice for proposed Local Law No. 3 of 2025, explaining the measure would allow the town to adopt a 2026 budget that exceeds the levy limit set under New York General Municipal Law §3-c. The notice named Maureen Beach as the Town Clerk and stated a complete copy of the proposed local law is on file at the town clerk's office at 14317 West Barre Road; the notice is dated 10/08/2025. The hearing was scheduled for November 2025 at 6:40 p.m., according to the notice read into the record.

A participant identified in the transcript as George asked whether the board had a total percentage for the proposed override. The chair replied that the figures had not changed since they were last shared and stated, "2.4763%." The chair characterized that number as just over the 2% threshold defined in General Municipal Law §3-c.

After the clarification, the chair moved to close the public hearing on Local Law No. 3; a second was recorded and members present voted "Aye," with the chair declaring the motion carried and the hearing closed. The record does not show any formal adoption of the local law during this session; the notice indicates the board will consider enacting the proposed local law at the specified hearing and that interested persons would be heard at that time.

The full proposed local law and supporting materials are available for public inspection at the office of the Town Clerk, and the town notice provides the procedural and statutory basis (General Municipal Law §3-c) for overriding the levy limit if the board chooses to enact the law.