WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – Jefferson County’s 2023 proposed budget was unveiled Tuesday morning.
While spending is up, property taxes are set to go down.
The spending plan totals $293 million and shows a 10% increase over this year.
County Administrator Robert Hagemann calls this spending a one-time investment in operations to help jumpstart important longer-term activities that won’t require additional spending down the road.
In other words, the county would spend money on replacing equipment, buying vehicles, and doing road and bridge work.
The county will use $6.6 million from its savings account to offset the additional spending.
“What we’re doing is starting to utilize some of those resources and take care of activities, or services, or capital, that are rather expensive, that become difficult in any particular year, operationally, to cover,” said Hagemann.
Jefferson County has $54 million in its fund balance. Hagemann and county Legislator John Peck say the county is in an unusual position.
“This is an opportunity our county has not had in years to be able to invest and save, and keep taxes as low as possible,” said Peck.
As the county spends more, property owners will see a lower tax bill. A taxpayer with a home assessed at $100,000 will pay $33 less in property taxes under the proposed budget.
As for the $54 million the county will keep in savings, Hagemann admits it’s higher than it should be.
“Over the course of the next three years, we need to find a way to get that down to reality,” he said.
“Save as necessary so that we can cushion what may be coming in the next 2 to 5 years. It’s about trying not overtax, and be prepared for whatever may come,” said Peck.
Lawmakers are expected to comb over the proposal and vote on a final budget on November 15.
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