The Maybrook village board voted down the proposed 2019-20 budget, which proposed a 9 percent tax increase.

Had the proposed budget gone through, the new 2019-20 tax rate for a Town of Montgomery resident would have been $15.43 per $1,000 assessed, up from $14.17 last year. The new 2019-20 tax rate for a Town of Hamptonburg resident, which has a small contingency in Maybrook, would have been $10.03 per $1,000 assessed.

Currently, the village’s fund balance is at zero, so the tax hike would have helped replenish the fund balance. The zero-fund balance has caused the Office of the State Comptroller to list the village as moderately stressed for fiscal year ending in 2018.

The fund balance is a municipality’s difference between assets and liabilities. The New York State Government Finance Officers’ Association recommends municipalities keep a fund balance of at least two months of annual total expenditures as insurance against unanticipated expenses or revenue shortfalls.

Trustee James Barnett, Daryl Capozzoli, and Kevin Greany voted against the proposed budget, while Mayor Dennis Leahy and Deputy Mayor Robert Pritchard voted for the proposed budget. Now, the board must negotiate and adopt a new budget before the state deadline of May 1.

Several village residents expressed concern about the tax hike at public hearings.

“I just don’t think it’s fair,” village resident Tom Walcott said.

Pritchard said the village will probably go over the 2 percent tax cap more often than not in the coming years to avoid another huge spike in taxes, which requires the passing of a local law.

The special meeting for the budget workshop will be on April 29 at 7 p.m.