SARANAC LAKE — The town of Harrietstown has released its preliminary budget for 2019, which would raise 2.9 percent more in taxes than this year but increase total town spending by less than a percent.

Town Supervisor Mike Kilroy drafted the preliminary budget. The town council still needs to vote on it.

The property tax rate for Harrietstown residents inside the village would increase by 7 cents, from $1.52 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $1.59. For residents outside of the village, the rate would increase by 3 cents, from $3.25 to $3.28.

One large increase would be a prospective 285 percent increase in funding to Dewey Mountain, a $50,000 sum, to cover lighting equipment purchases and repairs next year. This is to add lighting fixtures to new trails and repair the old trail lighting.

The town supervisor’s personal services budget, including salaries for both Kilroy and the town bookkeeper, would increase by 14 percent, to $52,992 cumulatively. This is to pay an increase in the working hours for the town bookkeeper, Beth Bevilacqua, Kilroy said.

Overall, the town is running under the state tax cap, according to Kilroy.

“We had $37,000 that we didn’t use last year,” he said. “We’re under the cap by $21,000 and some change.”

Copies of the preliminary budget are available in the town office at the town hall. The Harrietstown budget hearing is on Nov. 8 at 4:30 p.m., before the town council meeting, to make changes and finalize the budget. Public comment will be available.

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By the numbers

Harrietstown preliminary budget for 2019

Spending: $5,569,936, up 0.8% from this year

Tax levy (amount raised in taxes): $2,488,726, up 2.9% from this year

Tax rate inside village: $1.59 per $1,000 assessed value, up 5% from this year

Tax rate outside village: $3.28 per $1,000 assessed value, up 1% from this year