NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. (WKTV) - A 54 percent property tax increase is on the table in the Town of New Hartford, and Thursday night, residents have their chance to voice their displeasure.

As you can imagine, many residents of the Town of New Hartford are expected to speak on that proposed 54 percent tax increase. One speaker who is making sure he is present at the hearing is New York Mills Mayor Robert Maciol.

Part of the Village of New York Mills is in the Town of New Hartford, and folks living on that side of the village are facing a potential 1,600 percent tax hike.

Mayor Maciol says he believes this problem started in 2003. Using round numbers on his tax bill, Maciol said that back in 2003, Town of New Hartford taxes were around $150 a year.

He says that in 2004, taxes dropped to around $6 a year, because the village added another full time police officer. Maciol says his Town of New Hartford taxes have gradually rose over the past 5 years.

However, Maciol says that due to the budget problems the Town of New Hartford is facing, the Town wants to bring the New York Mills residents back to that 2003 rate.

Maciol says that is unacceptable.

"I think that would be devastating to the people," he said. "And I think there are ways all of us can work together to address that. Like I said, 1,600 percent is just a massive number. It has caused a lot of concern from people."

Maciol says the Village of New York Mills and the Town of New Hartford share many services, and residents in the village are a benefit to most of those services.

The mayor says New York Mills residents who live in the Town of New Hartford are "just a small part of the whole equation."

New Hartford Town Supervisor-elect Pat Tyksinski is expected to be in attendance Thursday night. Mayor Maciol says from what he understands, Tyksinki believes the mills should not be on the hook for the budget problems facing the whole town.