Only a handful of residents turned out for Maybrook’s annual budget hearing and even fewer spoke. When all was said and done, the village board passed the budget without change.

The total general fund appropriation is $3,151,961, a three percent or about $25,000 increase over the current 2023-24 budget. The general fund appropriation does not include water, sewer or refuse appropriations.

The approved budget carries a tax rate of $18.05, three percent more that the current $17.51 (for Town of Montgomery property owners). For the owner of a home assessed at $200,000 that is an increase of $108 for the new budget year. In the Town of Hamptonburgh, the tax rate goes from $10.53 to $10.95. (Most of Maybrook is in the Town of Montgomery, but a small section at the south end of the village lies in the Town of Hamptonburgh.)

The budget includes an average across-the-board salary increase of three percent for village employees. While some municipalities use fund balance monies to help offset tax increases, Maybrook has not for the last six years. The fund balance currently stands at $875,000.

Salaries for the coming budget year for village board members are: Mayor Dennis Leahy, $21,360.78; Deputy Mayor Charles Woznick, $8,189.94; Trustees Daryl Capozzoli, William Giannico and William Treco, $7,859.91.

Comments made at the hearing by the public centered on the general three percent salary increases and lack of funding for youth recreation. Resident Linda Amodio was the only speaker at the hearing. Her comments centered on the salary increases and lack of funding for youth recreation. She also put her questions/comments in writing (see Letters to the Editor in this edition) and urged more residents to attend village meetings and get involved.

“The glaring pieces of the budget for me are that there are zero funds budgeted for youth programs,” Amodio said.

“Montgomery and Walden have thriving youth programs, summer music programs and a sense of community. I don’t see that in Maybrook, and it’s very sad. Perhaps if some programs were offered in Maybrook, their friends would want to come to Maybrook.”

Leahy defended the decision to omit any funding for youth programs, noting “youth programs” is summer recreation. Maybrook once had a thriving summer recreation program but has not in several years due to declining enrollment. Especially after the Maybrook Elementary School closed and students relocated to either Montgomery or Berea schools, “our kids want to be with their friends” at Montgomery summer recreation.

In addition, he said, “there are a lot of costs and liability associated with this; hiring a recreation coordinator, youth counselors, insurance, etc. We no longer have a summer recreation program but the line is still in for the possibility in the future.”

Amodio suggested the village offer once a month “teen nights” with a DJ and dance or games. Parents could volunteer to run such a program.

Salaries was the second “glaring” piece for Amodio. She said her perusal of the budget shows the mayor getting a 6.8 percent raise while all other employees are getting three percent. She said she checked with neighboring villages like Montgomery and Chester and “the mayor of Maybrook is one of the highest paid mayors in the surrounding area”.

Leahy noted that his current salary that ends in June is $19,596.96, will go to $21,360.78 for a raise of $1,763.04 or $33.90 a week. He added that comparing mayoral salaries for other villages can be deceptive because, for example, in Montgomery, the mayor’s salary is $15,795 from the general fund, with an additional $1,942 from the water fund and $2,715 from the sewer fund, for a total of $20,451.

“My only salary,” he said, “is out of the general fund only.”

Leahy did agree with Amodio about public participation in board meetings and said he always encourages residents to attend meetings.

“We are very transparent with the public,” he said. “We are the only village that gives a detailed example of the increase in the budget and how it affects the residents. Yes, the cost of living has increased but keep in mind, so have property values as well. This also has an effect on taxes.”