BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON – The proposed budget for the Town of Canton will see an 8-cent increase in the tax rate with a tax levy of $1,189,331.

The town board agreed to hold a public hearing on the proposed 2024 spending plan on Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. at the Canton Municipal Building. Public comments can be emailed to Town Clerk Heidi Smith at townclerk@cantonny.gov by 4 p.m. Nov. 2.

The 2024 budget totals $3,793,636, a difference of $368,479 in spending from the 2023 budget of $3,425,157. The tax levy is

The tax rate will climb to $2.95 per $1,000 assessed valuation. The tax levy is $1,189,331, up $45,204 from last year’s figure of $1,144,127.

“This is an 8-cent increase with a total increase of $45,204 additional monies,” stated Town Supervisor Mary Ann Ashley in her budget message. “To keep this under the two percent tax cap, the board will be using ARPA funds and funds balances from the DA and B funds.”

The town property valuation increased $4,512,619 - from $398,650,614 in 2023 to $403,163,233 for the new budget year.

“Twenty-twenty four (2024) marks the sixth year a proposed balanced budget was presented to the Canton Town Board. Every year we have stayed under/up to the NYS Comptroller's Tax Cap,” Ashley noted.

Budget highlights include Projected increase in general operating costs, projected increase in health insurance rates of 9% for active employees and projected 15% for Medicare retirees, a 3. 75% increase in base wages to satisfy CSEA labor contract and allow for fundamental fairness of non-contract employees, and the addition of a part-time 30-week clerk for the Assessor's Office to continue updating all property records in anticipation of a full revaluation of properties in the future.

Other highlights are adding Planning Board and ZBA member compensation of $50/meeting and $75/meeting for Chairpersons, an increase in Highway construction spending from $613,895 to $800,000, increase monthly Dog Control from $610/month to $650/month, and increase Dog Kennel from $300/year to $500/year.

Also Fire Protection allocations increase from $282,500 to $293,500. The Canton Fire Department increased from $117,500 to $127,500; Pyrites Fire Department from $55,067 to $56,067, Rensselaer Falls and Morley remained the same at $55,067 and $55,066, and Morley Fire Commissioners increased the Morley Fire District from $13,214.80 to $14,150.

Salaries for the town’s elected officials increased slightly. Town Supervisor $17,534 from $16,900 in 2023; council members $6,019 from $5,801; highway superintendent $69,127 from $66,628; town clerk $47,206 from $45,500; and town justices $32,325 from $31,232.

The town board has until Nov. 16 to adopt the 2024 budget.

A copy of the preliminary budget is available in the town clerk’s office or online at www.cantonny.gov .