BATH – Steuben County taxpayers can expect to pay slightly less in 2018. In his presentation of the draft 2018 county budget during a special legislative meeting Wednesday, county Manager Jack Wheeler said the projected average tax rate of $8.44 per $1,000 full value will be the lowest in over fifteen years, if the budget is passed. The current tax rate is $8.46 per $1,000 full value The slight drop in the tax rate comes in spite of a spike in county spending in the draft budget of $190.8 million, with the additional costs largely due to capital projects and offset by outside revenues, he told county legislators. The current budget is $177.7 million. The proposed 2018 tax levy of $49.9 million represents actual county costs paid by property owners in Steuben, and is a better indicator of county spending than the actual tax rate.
Yet again, just nine state-mandated programs, including Medicaid, Safety Net, and indigent defense consumed 90 percent of the property tax levy.
According to The Pew Charitable Trusts, New York leads the nation in drawing its revenues from local taxpayers at 15 percent, seven times more than 48 states drawing an average of 2.2 percent. New Jersey is second highest at roughly 3.8 percent. Important elements of the proposed Steuben 2018 budget include: · Employee insurance expenses up 6.5 percent, due to unexpected worker compensation claims.· Sheriff’s Department personnel costs up 5 percent to 9 percent due to temporary hires and overtime. · Medicaid increases of 4.3 percent. · Landfill Cell 4 construction at a cost of $5 million (paid through a separate enterprise fund) · An allocation of $1 million in PAVE NY funds for road construction.· Decrease of 5 percent in mental health programs Wheeler warned legislators of pressures on county taxpayers in years to come, including the anticipated state reform of the public defender’s office, which will include the hire of new attorneys and possible construction. More alarming is the current lack of information available on the state’s plan to house juvenile offenders under the age of 18. Previously, the state prosecuted children aged 16 and 17 as adults. Wheeler said the plan could affect between 20 and 40 children in Steuben, and will have a dramatic impact on the county law, probation and social services departments. Legislators endorsed the budget by acclamation, with the final decision on the budget set to following a public hearing 6 p.m. Nov. 27 in the Legislature’s chambers.
