Town presents $47.3 million budget with ‘zero percent’ increase

By Alberto Gilman
Posted 11/9/21

With the 2022 Town of Newburgh budget, the continued focus for Town Supervisor Gil Piaquadio is to “maintain essential services to the residents of the Town of Newburgh without a drastic …

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Town presents $47.3 million budget with ‘zero percent’ increase

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With the 2022 Town of Newburgh budget, the continued focus for Town Supervisor Gil Piaquadio is to “maintain essential services to the residents of the Town of Newburgh without a drastic increase in the tax rates.”

The Town of Newburgh held a special meeting to discuss the town budget for the year 2022 with all board members in attendance. The town board opened up the public hearing on the budget for the town.

Piaquadio began with an introductory presentation stating the town’s total budget of $47.3 represents an increase of zero percent. This number is under the New York State mandated tax cap by approximately 1 million dollars. Piaquaido continued with the combined general and highway fund tax rate of $15.58 representing an increase of zero over last year’s tax rate. Piaquadio stated the average homeowner in the Town of Newburgh is assessed at $68,000, thus Town of Newburgh homeowners will pay zero more than they did for last year. This is a zero increase to the property owner, Piaquadio said.

Piaquadio thanked the Town Board, the accounting office and other department heads and offices who assisted in the formation of this budget. He added that several Police Benevolent Association and Civil Service Employees Association contracts were negotiated and ratified by the town. Those employees will receive a three to three and half percent increase to their salaries. Other town employees who are non-union will also receive a three and a half percent increase in their salaries as well.

In a notice sent out by the Town Clerk, the proposed salaries for the town supervisor is $120,032.16 and the deputy supervisor will receive $9,767.89. While the supervisor will not receive a salary increase, each of the four council members are due to receive an additional $10,000, bringing their salaries to $30,505.70 each for a part-time position.

The Town Clerk will receive $74,900.86. The Receiver of Taxes will receive $82,821.23. The two town justices will each receive $66,966.50.

The town will continue to maintain a total of 148 full-time, 53 part-time employees, 46 full-time police officers, 13 part-time police officers, the continuation of the DARE program and 23 full-time highway employees. With the $1 billion grant from the William Kaplan Family Foundation, the town’s recreation department expanded to the Desmond Estate, which offers 50 educational programs.