By ADAM ATKINSON

CANTON – A public hearing on the 2018 Canton town budget has been scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 5:30 p.m.

The proposed executive budget presented to the town board Wednesday, if approved, would mean a tax increase of 5 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value for town residents.

The town board has scheduled a work session to discuss the budget further and go over the numbers Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m.

The proposed 2018 budget currently features a decrease in total expenditures over last year at $2,738,882 compared to last year, which saw expenditures at $2,754,910.

Town Supervisor David Button said Wednesday that the decrease in appropriations over the past few years “has helped us stay below the tax cap for the fifth straight year.”

The 5 cent increase will raise the tax rate to $2.60 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The new rate will cover a general tax levy of $973,780, which is an increase from the 2017 general levy of $946,029.

The proposed budget sports a 1.5 percent pay increase for town employees, a 2 percent increase in spending for the recreation department and the addition of $60,000 to hire an outside firm for bookkeeping.

“This plan shows an increase in Operations & Maintenance for our four fire departments of 2 percent,” said Button during his presentation. “It also includes the town’s final $15,000 contribution to the Canton Fire Department’s ladder truck. Three years remain on the town’s commitment to fund the new CFD station. That expense approximates $35,000 per year.”

Total appropriations allocated for the fire departments that operate in the town are $274,914.

Copies of the budget proposal are available at the town clerk’s office.

The accounting of the 2018 budget proposal is subject to change prior to adoption pending further board and public review.