County tax levy could go up 5.8 percent

AUBURN - Cayuga County Manager Wayne Allen rolled out the tentative 2008 budget featuring a 5.8 percent property tax levy increase Thursday.

The $136 million spending plan carries an average $10.16 per $1,000 of assessed property value tax rate, 2.1 percent higher than this year's, though that figure will vary by municipality. In the city, the rate would drop about 20 cents, from $9.05 per $1,000 this year to $8.85.

Once again, salaries, benefits and state mandates most heavily influenced the $3.4 million, or 2.6 percent, increase in county spending, Allen said. Nearly $45 million would go toward salary and fringe benefits in 2008 under the tentative budget.