Unfunded mandates keep county taxes up

 Supervisors March 25 2025

Unfunded mandates keep county taxes up

By PETE KLEIN

LAKE PLEASANT—The Hamilton County Board of Supervisors held its first Special Session of the year and passed the following resolutions:

REQUEST TO EXTEND THE ONE PERCENT (1%) INCREASE IN COUNTY SALES TAX

WHEREAS, the County of Hamilton continues to face increased costs due to unfunded mandates, and WHEREAS, the County of Hamilton is also facing an increase in costs to retain and recruit qualified employees, and WHEREAS, the County Highway infrastructure is not adequately funded through CHIPs, and WHEREAS, all of these factors make the County’s financial situation unsustainable without the increase to the County Sales Tax, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors hereby requests Senator Mark Walczyk and Assemblyman Robert Smullen, Hamilton County’s elected representatives in the New York State Legislature, to cause to be introduced in the Senate and in the Assembly, a bill to allow Hamilton County to extend, by Local Law or Resolution, the additional one percent (1%) sales tax, which is not subject to preemption, for the longest period of time allowable by amendments to the New York State Tax Law Section 1210, and any other sections of law which are necessary to fulfill this purpose, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors requests that Senator Mark Walczyk and Assemblyman Robert Smullen make every reasonable effort to secure prompt passage of said legislation, and be it further RESOLVED, that certified copies of this resolution be forwarded to Senator Mark Walczyk and Assemblyman Robert Smullen.

REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF NYS LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING COUNTY RECORDING TAX PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 11 OF THE TAX LAW

WHEREAS, the County of Hamilton continues to face increased costs due to unfunded mandates, and WHEREAS, the County of Hamilton is also facing an increase in costs to retain and recruit qualified employees, and WHEREAS, Section 253 (j) of the Tax Law authorizes an additional county recording tax of Twenty-five ($.25) Cents per One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars of principal debt secured by a mortgage on real property within the County, which mortgage tax is distributed in conformance with the statutory authority contained in Section 261 of the Tax Law, and WHEREAS, it is necessary to request the New York State Legislature to adopt Home Rule legislation so as to authorize Hamilton County to enact a local law imposing the extension of the

aforesaid additional tax authorized in Section 253 (j) of the Tax Law, now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors hereby requests the New York State Legislature adopt Home Rule legislation so as to authorize Hamilton County to enact a local law extending the aforesaid additional tax, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors is hereby directed to forward a certified copy of this resolution to Senator Mark Walczyk and Assemblyman Robert Smullen. 

AWARD OF BID FOR BIG BROOK BRIDGE PROJECT

WHEREAS, Hamilton County DPW solicited bids for the replacement of the Big Brook Bridge located on County Route 4, (Big Brook Road) in the Town of Indian Lake, and WHEREAS, four (4) bids were received as follows – 1. Birdsall Excavation & Construction, LLC. - $1,547,783.50; 2. Luck Brothers - $1,630,710.00; 3. BP Excavation - $1,658,882.884; Ing. Civil Inc. -$2,134,400.00 and WHEREAS, Greenman –Pedersen, Inc. consulting firm for Hamilton County has reviewed the said bids recommends that the award be made to Birdsall Excavation & Construction, LLC., of Clarksville, NY, and WHEREAS, the County Highway Superintendent has sent the approval recommendation to the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) for their approval, 

Be it RESOLVED, the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors hereby award the bid for the Big Brook Bridge Project to Birdsall Excavation & Construction, LLC., 15 Tower Lane, Clarksville, NY 12041 in the amount of $1,547,783.50 contingent on NYSDOT approval, be it further RESOLVED, when Hamilton County receives approval from NYSDOT the Board of Supervisors hereby authorize the Chairman of the Board to enter into an agreement with Birdsall Excavating & Construction, LLC., for the said bridge project with the approval of the County Attorney, and the County Treasurer, Highway Superintendent and Clerk of the Board be so notified.

AUTHORIZING PURCHASE FOR 2025 SHERIFF VEHICLE

WHEREAS, the Sheriff’s Office is in need of a new pickup for 2025, and WHEREAS, 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 3500’s are available to purchase under NYS Contract, and WHEREAS, the Fleet Coordinator has received a written quote from Mangino Chevrolet for a 2025 Chevrolet 3500 Crew Cab with a service body for a delivered price of $74,503.00, and WHEREAS, the Fleet Coordinator recommends the purchase of the said pickup for use by the Sheriff’s Office, be it

RESOLVED, that the Fleet Coordinator is hereby authorized to order one (1) 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 pickup for the Sheriff’s Office as mentioned herein for a total of $74,503.00 delivered from Mangino Chevrolet of Amsterdam, NY under NYS Contract PC68994, FAN#856351, BID 587150, be it further RESOLVED, that $74,503.00 be transferred from the Unappropriated General Fund Balance in accordance with Section 366 Subdivision 1 of the County Law to Account No. A3110.0202 Automobile to cover the cost of the vehicle and the County Treasurer be so authorized and the Sheriff, Fleet Coordinator and the Clerk of the Board be so notified.

AUTHORIZING COUNTY FLEET COORDINATOR TO PURCHASE AUTOMOBILE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT 

WHEREAS, the Community Services Department is in need of replacing a 12-passenger van and the County Fleet Coordinator does recommend the replacement of said vehicle, and WHEREAS, because of the issues with having drivers available for this style van the Fleet Coordinator recommends the purchase of a Chevrolet Tahoe because of its 8 passenger seating capabilities, and WHEREAS, Chevrolet Tah  WHEREAS, the Fleet Coordinator recommends the purchase of one (1) new Chevrolet Tahoe for use in 2025 as follows per NYS Contract PC68994, NYS Bid Assist FAN #856351, Bid 587150 Vehicles: (1) 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe - $63,995.00 be it RESOLVED, that $63,995.00 be transferred from Federal Salary Sharing currently in the unappropriated general fund in accordance with Section 366 Subdivision 1 of the County Law to Community Services Account No. A4310.0201 Automobile, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Fleet Coordinator is hereby authorized to order one (1) 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe for Community Service mentioned herein for a total of $63,995.00 delivered from Mangino Chevrolet of Amsterdam, NY and the Fleet Coordinator, County Treasurer and Community Service Director be so notified.

AUTHORIZATION FOR CONSULTING FIRM FOR COURTHOUSE FIRST FLOOR RENOVATIONS - BUILDINGS

WHEREAS, the DPW Superintendent has met with the Public Works Committee to discuss hiring a consulting firm to facilitate the renovations for the first floor of the courthouse including Treasurers Office, Board of Supervisors Board Room and the hallway between these two spaces, and WHEREAS, the Superintendent received two (2) proposals from consulting firms for services for the first floor courthouse renovations as follows – CPL, 30 Century Hill Drive, Suite 104, Latham, NY 12110 – Fee $62,000.00 LaBella Assoc., 4 British American Blvd., Latham, NY 12110 – Fee $83,400.00 and WHEREAS, the consultant firm will develop architectural design, bid specifications, pre-construction meeting and other related engineering items for the said renovations per the proposal received, and WHEREAS, the Superintendent recommends moving forward with hiring CPL of Latham for this renovation project, be it

RESOLVED, the Board of Supervisors hereby approves the Superintendent to hire CPL and for the Chairman of the Board to enter into an agreement with CPL per proposal received with the County Attorney’s approval and this will be a charge to the 5-Year Project Plan, Account No. A1620.0414 and the County Treasurer, DPW Superintendent and Clerk of the Board be so advised.

AUTHORIZING PAYMENT FOR SHERIFF VEHICLE 2024 CHEVROLET TAHOE TO GM FINANCIAL

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 82-25 authorized the purchase of a 2024 Chevrolet Tahoe SSV for the Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $52,500.00 delivered from Whitmoyer Buick-Chevrolet, 1001 E. Main St., Mount Joy, PA 17552 under NYS Contract PC69180, and WHEREAS, said vehicle has been delivered, and WHEREAS, Hamilton County has been advised by GM Financial that payment for said

vehicle is to be made to GM Financial not Whitmoyer Buick-Chevrolet, be it RESOLVED, that the County Treasurer is hereby authorized to pay GM Financial, Attn: Howie Ravitz, 220 E. Las Colinas Blvd. Suite 500, Irving, TX 75039 in the amount of $52,500.00 from Account No. A3110.0202 Automobile for Whitmoyer Buick-Chevrolet Invoice FTRR210024 and the County Treasurer, Sheriff, Fleet Coordinator and the Clerk of the Board be so notified.