Though its 2025 budget will not be finalized until next month, the Plattekill Town Board laid the groundwork last week by voting to override the state’s 2 percent tax levy cap for the 2024 budget. The vote, which followed an occasionally testy public hearing, was unanimously approved, with Councilman Lofredo Castillo Jr. absent.

Supervisor Dean DePew noted that while the override would give the board flexibility, it was not guaranteed that taxes would increase by more than 2 percent. He emphasized that the budget process was still ongoing, with each department scrutinizing its needs versus wants.

The tentative budget presented a 16.7 percent tax increase, which sparked concerns from residents, especially seniors. Many spoke about the financial strain of rising taxes, with some noting that property taxes exceeded their previous mortgage payments. Others criticized the lack of communication about the meeting and expressed frustration over high taxes without significant services, such as municipal water or sewer systems.

DePew assured attendees that the board would work diligently to minimize the tax increase. He acknowledged the challenges of balancing the town’s operational costs, such as insurance, fuel, and police funding, against the desire to keep taxes low.

“And I challenge anybody to come into my office and tell me, I’ll do one on one, I’ll spend as much time, no matter what day of the week, time of the night, you tell me what we can cut and who we can let go and what we don’t need and make the town run the way it’s supposed to run,” DePew said.

The final budget will be discussed at a public hearing on November 6, 2024.