Webster challenges cap 

The Webster Town Board will vote on whether to exceed the state property tax cap at a meeting on November 1. A public hearing precedes the vote. | Local governments in New York State have a 2 percent cap on their tax levies, unless they vote to override. | Webster plans to exceed the tax levy in its 2013 budget by $151,000, says Supervisor Ron Nesbitt. | For the past several years, the town has pulled funds from reserves and eliminated positions and, as a result, has been able to keep taxes steady, he says. But more cuts may start to impact services, he says. | The problem is driven by pension contribution levels and other state requirements, Nesbitt says, warning that other towns in the state will likely be in a similar situation soon. | Additional factors driving the override vote include rising employee health-care costs and the high costs of petroleum products like fuel and asphalt, Nesbitt says. | The public hearing is at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 1, at Webster Town Hall, 1000 Ridge Road.