Supervisor Cavaccini Presents 2027 Tentative Budget That Stays Under State Tax Cap
WAPPINGER, NY — Town Supervisor Joseph D. Cavaccini has presented his 2027 Tentative Budget, a $25,054,013 spending plan that remains under the New York State property-tax levy cap while advancing improvements to roads, parks, public facilities, and the services residents depend on every day. Of the total budget, only $9million or 37% is only levied onto property taxpayers – the remainder is funded through innovative alternative revenues.
“Every dollar in this budget belongs to our residents, and we have a responsibility to make it count,” said Supervisor Cavaccini. “This proposal keeps affordability at the center of our decisions while investing in Wappinger’s future. We are planning ahead, taking care of our infrastructure, and making Town government more responsive to the people we serve.”
The proposal accounts for contractual obligations and anticipated increases in insurance, utilities, materials, employee benefits, and other operating costs. It also incorporates recently negotiated and ratified collective bargaining agreements, supporting competitive compensation to retain experienced employees and recruit the skilled workers needed to maintain dependable Town services.
Major investments for 2027
Beginning the first phase of Central Park at Wappinger. The Town has just received a $2.7million State grant to fully fund the purchase cost of this property, essentially securing free land for our community. An initial $250,000 investment would advance public access to the approximately 326-acre former Cranberry Hills property preserved by the Town in 2026. Priorities include debris removal, trails, parking and entrance improvements, drainage, and pond-related work, with future phases guided by conservation and affordability.
Improving roads and drainage. The Highway Department is targeting approximately 20 roads, totaling about seven miles, for reconstruction or resurfacing. The program emphasizes coordination with drainage and underground utility work to protect new pavement, alongside continued investment in snow response, equipment, and fleet maintenance.
Expanding senior and recreation services. Additional support for Senior Enrichment would expand exercise, wellness, educational, and social opportunities. The proposal also supports youth programming at the Town’s two summer camp locations, community events, concerts, and other recreation programs.
Modernizing Town services. The plan advances online building permits, electronic records, mobile technology for inspectors, and short-term rental management tools. Additional code-enforcement capacity and improvements to public service areas would help staff respond to applications, inspections, and neighborhood concerns.
Maintaining parks and public buildings. Two additional Buildings & Grounds employees and a five-year equipment plan would strengthen maintenance capacity and allow more work to be performed in-house. Planned improvements include roof work at the Robinson Lane Baseball Complex and Carnwath properties, along with continued park and facility upgrades.
Supporting public safety. The proposal maintains targeted law-enforcement patrols addressing speeding, traffic safety, property crime, and neighborhood concerns, with continued coordination with County and State partners.
Investing in water infrastructure. The plan continues the Hilltop Well Field filtration and Atlas Well Field improvement projects, supported by federal funding, to strengthen drinking-water reliability and treatment capacity.
Planning ahead and protecting taxpayer dollars
The tentative budget places greater emphasis on revenues beyond property taxes, including grants, facility rentals, interest earnings, and recycling operations. Following the Town bringing refuse operations in-house this year and terminating our contract with a third party vendor, our projected Recycle Center revenue increases to $180,000 for 2027 without rate increases, as the Town met this revenue in June of this year due to the cost savings of our newly designed program, supporting the administration’s effort to reduce reliance on property taxpayers.
A five-year Capital Improvement Plan would help the Town prioritize projects based on public safety, infrastructure condition, service needs, and long-term costs. The budget also expands departmental performance measures and project tracking so residents can better understand both Town spending and the results it delivers.
“Our job is to address problems before they become more expensive emergencies,” Cavaccini said. “That means maintaining the roads and buildings we already own, pursuing outside funding, and making thoughtful improvements that our community can sustain. I want residents to see their tax dollars at work and have confidence that we are looking after this Town for the long term.”
Residents are encouraged to review the full 2027 Town Supervisor’s Tentative Budget and participate in the Town’s budget review process. The proposal is subject to Town Board review and adoption.
Read the complete 2027 Town Supervisor’s Tentative Budget
Media contact: Office of the Town Supervisor | (845) 297-2744
