South Bristol board adopts local law to override state tax‑levy limit for 2026 budget

Supervisor Daniel Q. Marshall said the board faced two local laws and pressed the members to act on the tax‑cap override while deferring a separate zoning revision. On a motion by Councilman Stephen Cowley, seconded by Councilwoman Meg Fuller, the board adopted Resolution No. 29‑2025, "A local law to override the tax levy limit established in General Municipal Law §3‑c," by a vote of 3‑0. "We have the option of approving them both tonight or wait until next month for a full board," Marshall said while framing the decision to act only on the override.

The resolution directs the Town Clerk to enter the local law in the minutes and file it with the New York Secretary of State. The minutes record that the public hearing and required notices were held and the board "after due deliberation, finds it in the best interest of the Town of South Bristol to adopt said Local Law." The law, as adopted, authorizes the Town Board to adopt a 2026 budget that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the statutory "tax levy limit" if needed. Town Clerk Judy Voss certified the adoption in the meeting record.

The action is procedural but significant for the town's fiscal flexibility: the local law invokes subdivision 5 of General Municipal Law §3‑c and becomes effective upon filing with the Secretary of State. The board did not specify a levy increase amount at the meeting; future budget proposals that exceed the statutory limit will be possible under the adopted local law.