Working together the Town Board, our Town employees and I have completed the proposed 2021 Town Budget. We worked hard to remain under the NYS Tax Cap despite another round of unfunded mandates by New York State and a loss of revenue due to the Covid pandemic. The budget as presented will reflect a $95,848 or 3.07% decrease in the Town-wide funds and a $36,836 or 0.24% increase in the Town’s outside fund.
This fiscally responsible budget keeps us below the tax cap once again. With an excellent fiscal rating from the Office of the State Comptroller, a strong Moody’s bond rating, a budget that is under the NYS tax cap, dedicated employees and hardworking public servants, Warwick remains the Town with the lowest Town tax rate of any Town in Orange County that provides police services.
The process to comply with Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 203 that ordered a review of our police policies and practices to ensure the community that we enforce our laws equally, fairly and with respect began last week. While there were some live video problems the panel of community members heard a presentation by our police department and asked some excellent questions, generating many good ideas to strengthen the police/community relationship. The process will continue and a plan for any changes will be presented to the public at a hearing prior to adoption. Please send any questions to msweeton@townofwarwick.org.
Please join us on Fri., Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. in the Kings Estates/Sugar Hills neighborhood of our Town as we celebrate a COVID-19 delayed Arbor Day tree planting, hosted by the Warwick Valley Gardeners and the Warwick Tree Commission. These two groups beautify our Town every year with beautiful tree plantings that help keep our community green!
It is with great sadness that we lost three amazing residents this past week. Ed Hodas was a fixture at one of our senior clubs, a Veteran, and a man with a smile that always could turn the worst day into a better one. Thom Woglom was a Warwick fixture, an innovator, a craftsman and a good man. He left his mark on Warwick through his many iconic building projects. Dave MacMillan was our Airport Manager for my 19 years as Supervisor. Dave managed the airport and cared for it as if it was his own. I never had to worry about anything there when Dave was on the job. These three leave us with heavy hearts but inspired by how they made Warwick a better place.
There will be a Public Hearing on the 2021 Preliminary and Special District Budgets on Thurs., Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. in the Warwick Town Hall, located at 132 Kings Hwy. in Warwick.
The next regular meeting of the Town Board will be held on Thurs., Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Warwick Town Hall.
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