Just three Cornwall residents spoke at the November 5 budget public hearing.

Nancy Bryan spoke first, questioning the annual increase of the supervisor’s salary in the budget, saying in 2022 it was $69,929 and, proposed for 2027, it has risen to $82,683 plus two stipends, totaling $101,083.

“Why do any of you sitting up there think that raising your own salary is okay?” she asked. Bryan also questioned the salary for the town’s bookkeeper, saying she had been told by the board that would be part of the salary schedule decided upon at the January reorganization meeting. “Why is it a secret kept from the public?”

Bryan also asked why the most recent town audit has been made public or approved by the board and questioned how much it costs to keep an old police chief vehicle on hand for the supervisor to use.

Resident Greg Robie handed a packet of written comments to board members that he said would like considered before a vote is taken; and another resident questioned if a stipend paid to an employee to collect hotel occupancy and short-term rental taxes was paid for by those taxes. That person also asked whether there ever comes a time “when a grant is not worth accepting” because it adds more debt to the town.

Supervisor Josh Wojehowski said the comments that were made would be considered prior to the adoption of the budget.

He also acknowledged comments from Deputy Supervisor Tim McCarty, who was not at the meeting, about ways to save $96,000 in the 2027 budget. Among them were getting rid of the town’s Emergency Management Office (saving $10,000), the town not funding summer concerts (saving $8000), cutting youth spending in half, cutting beautification costs and cutting one seasonal employee.

“We will consider all that,” Wojehowski said, adding that similar cuts have already resulted in $77,000 being removed from the preliminary budget. He did respond, however, to the comment about town debt, saying the town is nowhere close to reaching its debt limit, and they do consult bond counsel before adding any projects that increase debt.

The Board was expected to adopt its 2027 spending plan this week, at its November 10 board meeting.