CANTON – The Canton City Council is expected to adopt a 2025 city budget that will see a tax rate increase of 20 cents per $1,000 at the Nov. 13 monthly board meeting.

A public hearing on the spending plan was held Monday night with no public comment.

According to Town Supervisor Mary Ann Ashley, the preliminary projected spending plan is $4,042,094.84, making a spending increase difference of $247,957.80.

The tax rate for 2024 is currently $2.95/$1000, which raised $1,144,127 in property taxes.

“We stayed within the tax cap for 2024. The tax rate is proposed to increase to $3.15/$1000, raising $1,283,626 in property taxes. That’s an increase of 20 cents/1000 adding a total increase of $61,125 of additional money. We’re going to go over the tax cap,” Ashley noted.

The property valuation in the city went from $403,163,233 to $407,500,325. An increase in property assessment of $4,337,092.

“The reality of Budget 2025 is that we have to go over the tax cap. This is due to increased operating and health insurance costs, contractual obligations, unexpected costs of the Miner Street Road Project, Solar Pilot and host community agreements, the negative impact of Hurricane Debbie, the use of the fund balance and the city making a full shutdown. Revaluation of all city properties under contract with GAR Associates,” Ashley said in a previous North Country This Week article.

Proposed base salaries for city elected officials are $22,500 for supervisor; $6,244.71 for four board members; $71,719.26 for highway superintendent; $48,976.22 for Clerk; and $33,537.18 for two city judges.