In a 3-2 vote, the 2025 budget was adopted. Councilmen Esposito and Haughwout voted no.
The budget carries 6.68% increase ($110/year for the typical house with a $10,000 assessed value) in the town tax (General, Highway, Library funds), plus additional tax increases in the Refuse, Water, Advanced Life Support, and sewer districts. For the typical house on town water, and excluding sewers, the increase over 2024 is approximately $170.
Councilmen Esposito voted against the budget, suggesting that the increase could have been lower had more money been taken from the fund balance. (The budget already includes the use of $1,450,000 from the fund balance.) Possibly in response to the comptroller’s comment that roughly $18 million of the $24 million unassigned funds in the fund balance have already been earmarked for projects, Councilwoman Haughwout suggested that capital projects should be funded by borrowing which would free up fund balance to reduce the tax rate. In response, Councilwoman Siegel said fund balance money should be used capital projects, not for recurring operating costs.
Several residents, including two seventh grade students, spoke in support of the library and their desire to see its budget increased.
Anthony Iannone, one of the Commissioners for the Advanced Life Support District, explained the ALS service and why the increase in the ALS tax was needed
Many of the public’s comments focused on solar and urged the town to consider purchasing hybrid and/or EV vehicles. In 2024, the town will have purchased 12 vehicles, one of which is a hybrid that was financed with a grant. It was also suggested that the town explore options for solar panels on town owned property.
In response to comments that the town could save $60,000 by doing away with an outside PR firm (Thompson & Bender), Supervisor Lachterman and Councilwoman Haughwout defended the continued expense.
The issues of how to deal with the remaining 400 residential property owners who have refused entry to their property in order to install the new smart water meters, as well as plans to enforce the requirement that privately owned commercial water meters be tested annually for their accuracy were also discussed.
Other issues included:
- Are non residents using our pickleball and tennis courts without paying the required permit fee
- Whether the 485b tax incentive for businesses needs to be revisited
- How properties like Yorktown Green will be reassessed based on the new improvements
- Whether some of the revenue projections were too optimistic
A video of the meeting is available at: https://yorktownny.granicuas.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=1889