TROY – Rensselaer County’s proposed average property tax rate will drop by 3.7 percent under the proposed 2020 budget of $353.1 million introduced to the Legislature Friday.

“The 2020 budget, as proposed, slightly decreases the average property tax rate while maintaining services now provided by the county and making changes that will result in improvements in some some service and governmental areas of the county,” County Executive Steve McLaughlin said in his budget message to the legislators.

McLaughlin noted that this is the second budget he’s introduced that cuts the average county tax rate. This rate falls by 21 cents per $1,000 to $5.49 per $1,000 from the 2019 rate of $5.68.

The county uses an average tax when explaining its budget. The average tax rate is calculated using the full value of property in the county.

The tax rate varies for each city and town in the county due to differing equalization rates. For example, the town of Grafton completed a reassessment in 2019. As a result its tax rate changed from $67.02 per $1,000 of assessed value to $5.73 per $1,000.

County Legislature Chairman Michael Stammel, R-Rensselaer, said he expected legislators would support the proposed spending plan since it doesn't carry a tax increase.

Deputy Minority Leader Cindy Doran, D-Troy, said the county is benefiting from the continued expansion of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in East Greenbush and other economic development projects.

The proposed budget increases spending by 1.8 percent over the adopted 2019 budget.

It includes funds to build a new fire tower at the county fire training center in North Greenbush, McLaughlin said. The budget also continues the county’s paving program for the county road network with 25 more miles scheduled to be repaved in 2020. The county paved or repaired 20 miles in 2018 and 30 miles in 2019.

McLaughlin touted the Amazon warehouse project and work at Regeneron as examples that “economic development has also been strong in our county.” He also said the county’s financial position is stronger as Moody’s upgraded the county bond rating from A1 to Aa3.