NORWICH – The wording of a resolution that would extend the county’s authority to impose the additional 1 percent sales tax for the public safety building project was debated at a board meeting last week.

The current legislation isn’t scheduled to expire until Nov. 30, but county lawmakers were advised, they said, to request an extension as soon as possible to ensure it is readied for formal action by the New York State Legislature. The new period would be from Dec. 1, 2009 through Nov. 30, 2011 “or such longer period as may be possible,” the resolution states.

Town of Smyrna Supervisor James B. Bays questioned why the time period was open-ended and moved to strike the final verbiage.

Board Chairman Richard B. Decker said the tax is reviewed every two years despite the open-ended language, and the resolution’s verbiage was “language that the state provides us.”