Tompkins County legislators will get to hear how residents feel about a proposed 3.97 percent increase to the tax levy during a public hearing tonight on the tentative 2010 county budget.

Over the course of 11 sessions spanning nearly two months, legislators tweaked County Administrator Joe Mareane's proposed $155 million budget after hearing from dozens of department heads and agency leaders.

Basing his recommendations on a target of a 3 percent levy increase set by legislators earlier in the year, Mareane's budget would have seen the tax rate rise by one cent per $1,000 of assessed value, to $5.94. Legislator amendments raised the total tax share by nearly $360,000, leading to a tax rate of $5.99.

Legislators approved the changes last week by a vote of 9-6.

The budget still reflects a decrease in local-share spending of 0.31 percent from the current year, a reduction of almost $230,000, and required cuts of nearly 10 percent from most departments to offset increases in pension costs and losses in sales tax revenues.

It incorporates two new revenue sources, which will also be topics of discussion tonight.

A 65-cent per month increase in the telephone landline surcharge would raise an estimated $250,000 dedicated to support the cost of the county's new multi-million dollar emergency communications system. It is tentatively recommended by legislators, and the public is invited to weigh in at a hearing scheduled at the beginning of the legislature's 5.30 p.m. meeting.

A proposed 0.25 percent increase in the county's mortgage recording tax -- from 75 cents per each $100 on principal debt to $1 -- would generate an estimated $1 million in annual revenue. But it has drawn the ire of real estate agents, who have appeared at recent meetings to plead against its adoption, arguing that buying a home is already prohibitively expensive in the area and that prospective homebuyers are already deciding against relocation here because of the high tax rate.

It is on the agenda for discussion pending the recommendation of two legislative committees set to meet in a special session at 4:45 p.m.

More than 100 people attended a public session at the Tompkins County Public Library early in the budget season to respond to Mareane's initial proposals, and the outcry over potential losses of funding to human services programs such as the mental health emergency response unit resulted in the restoration of some funds.

The hearing on the landline surcharge will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by a regular legislative session and the budget hearing at 7 p.m. All will be held at Legislature Chambers, on the second floor of the County Courthouse.

The final budget adoption vote is scheduled to take place Tuesday, Nov. 17.

The amended budget is available online at www.tompkins-co.org.