The Deerpark town board unanimously approved a $7.7 million budget for 2025 on Nov. 7, representing an increase of about $1 million from the current year.
This budget encompasses the town’s main operating fund, highway department, and three fire districts (Huguenot, Cuddebackville, and Sparrowbush), as well as its only lighting district.
The projected increase in revenues, including sales and mortgage taxes, along with a larger portion of the fund balance, primarily supports the budget increase.
The property tax levy shows a modest increase of less than 2 percent across six funds. However, the combined mill rate for an average homeowner in town is lower than the current year, attributed to a growing tax roll with new homes and property improvements, as noted by town supervisor Gary Spears.
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“With the increased assessments in the town, most residents, depending on which fire districts they are in, won’t see any tax increases, so that is good,” Spears informed The Epoch Times.
As per the rate schedule report, a homeowner with a $100,000 property in both the Cuddebackville Fire District and Lighting District No. 1 will experience a $38 reduction in town, fire, and lighting taxes next year.
Similarly, a homeowner in the Sparrowbush Fire District will see a nearly $26 reduction, while one in the Huguenot Fire District will witness a $33 decrease, according to the report.
The town did not reassess existing properties on the tax roll this year, except for those with value-altering improvements or downgrades, according to Spears.
Concerning the fund balance, containing mainly unspent revenues from past years, $1.2 million is allocated to balance the budget, nearly doubling that of this year’s plan.
Historically, due to conservative revenue budgeting, realistic expense forecasts, and grant utilization, the town rarely tapped into the fund balance as budgeted, with untouched portions rolling over to the subsequent year’s budget, as discussed at the Nov. 7 town board meeting.
Discussions at the same meeting revealed a fund balance of approximately $2.3 million in the town.
Regarding salaries for elected town officials, next year’s figures show the town supervisor earning $57,080 (up from $55,000 in the current year), the highway superintendent receiving $74,080 (up from $72,000), and the town clerk getting $57,080 (up from $55,000).
Both town justices will see a $500 salary increase, bringing their earnings to $27,000 each. Town board members’ salaries will remain steady at $12,000 each.
“I believe it is an excellent budget,” Councilman Arthur Trovei expressed to The Epoch Times. “We strive to be very conservative in our revenue and expenditure approach.”
Councilwoman Christa Hoovler commented to The Epoch Times on the adopted budget, stating, “We are ensuring we do not burden our residents with excessive town taxes and are thoughtful and deliberate in our spending decisions.”
