Wappinger Town Board Approves 2023 Budget
With Reduced Tax Rates Per Assessed Values
The Wappinger Town Board has done it again, for the fifth consecutive year in a row!
At its November 14 meeting, the Town Board unanimously approved a budget for 2023 that once again reduces tax rates per assessed value for town and village residents and businesses.
“Credit is due to our Board members, department heads, Comptroller Fredrick Awino, and all town employees for their collective efforts to hold down town expenses in order to give our taxpayers a break at a time where we’re all being hit by inflationary increases elsewhere,” said Town Supervisor Dr. Richard Thurston. The Supervisor also expressed appreciation to the Board for “keeping the 2023 budget within the parameters of my initial tentative budget.”
The town’s overall tax levy, including special districts, will drop $36,688 from last year’s levy. The total levy for 2023 is $8,680,877, compared to 2022’s levy of $8,717,565.
Total spending including special districts will be $18,199,300 for 2023, compared with $17,491,000 in 2022.
For Residents Inside the Village, Homestead Tax will drop from $0.74 to $0.71 per $1000 of assessed value.
For Businesses Inside the Village, Non-Homestead Tax will decrease from $1.45 to $1.40 per $1000 of assessed value.
For Town Residents Outside the Village, Homestead Tax declines from $1.83 to $1.81 per $1000 of assessed value.
For Town Businesses Outside the Village, Non-Homestead Tax drops from $3.60 to $3.55 per $1000 of assessed value.
The estimated fund balance in the General Funds (both A and B Funds) is $6.02 million, while the town’s Highway Fund (DB Fund) is at $2.34 million.
“We’re able to maintain our high levels of public services, including our police and highway services, our water and sewer services, and our various services offered at town hall, while adopting a conservative budget that reflects the will of our residents for less taxes,” said Dr. Thurston. “This kind of fiscal stability gives us the flexibility for possible future capital projects, as well as the flexibility to meet any unexpected needs of our residents.”
Councilman Al Casella of Ward Four said “This budget is fiscally sound and prudent. It keeps all essential services intact. The budget takes the Town Residents Outside the Village, Homestead tax rate from $1.84 in 2022 to $1.81 in 2023, so a $1.3% decrease and the Residents Inside the Village, Homestead tax rate goes from $.74 to $.71 or a $3.5% decrease. This budget adds additional funding for Sheriff Patrol/Vandalism, Disaster Preparedness, and Traffic Control/Safety. We also added funds to recreation for our playgrounds and ball parks, senior programs like the garden club and book club, our sports museum, and town personnel. We are in a strong financial position entering 2023 with excellent cash flow and a Double A + bond rating. I want to thank the Town Board for working together and putting this fiscally responsible budget in place for 2023.”
