A Town of Marlborough public hearing on the proposed 2027 budget turned contentious Tuesday when a resident who questioned Supervisor Scott Corcoran about spending and legal fees was removed from the meeting in handcuffs.

Adam Broza was removed after a series of exchanges with Corcoran over records requests, attorney fees and access to detailed budget information. Corcoran was explaining a proposed 8.47% increase in the town’s tax levy, which exceeds the state property tax cap.

Corcoran attributed much of the increase to employee health insurance premiums, retirement contributions, legal expenses and other costs he described as largely outside the town’s control.

Before the presentation, Corcoran said disruptions at a previous meeting would not be tolerated. He said residents would have three minutes to speak and that anyone refusing to follow meeting procedures could be removed after three warnings.

“We are here to listen to your comments, but just be respectful,” he said.

As Corcoran discussed the difficulty of reducing the increase, Broza said residents lacked enough detailed financial information to identify possible savings.

“I guess what I’m saying is these numbers are great topline,” Broza said.
He also said some of his records requests had gone unanswered for months. “Some of them have been waiting, I think, nine, ten months,” he said.

The exchange intensified when Corcoran said Broza’s records requests and related disputes were contributing to the town’s legal costs. Broza questioned a $700 fee at the center of a records dispute.

“You’re not going to charge taxpayers $200,000 in attorney fees for $700,” he said. He offered to pay the fee himself. “I’ll actually give you the $700 so you can pay and then we’ll release the records,” he said.

Corcoran said the meeting was meant for budget discussion and warned Broza. “If you don’t stop your outburst, you will be removed. That’s warning number one,” he said.

When Broza asked whether line-item details were available online, Corcoran told him he could submit a Freedom of Information Law request. Broza asked what that would cost.

Broza was later removed in handcuffs. The available record does not show the complete sequence of warnings or every exchange before his removal.
After Broza was removed, Corcoran apologized to residents who had come to learn about the budget. He then criticized Broza’s dealings with the town, including a dispute over a proposed business and numerous FOIL requests.
Corcoran said the town had received more than 90 extensive FOIL requests connected to the dispute. He said the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals granted five setback variances, but Broza later withdrew his Planning Board application. He said Broza could return to the board and resume the process, and that the town had prevailed in court proceedings involving Broza.

Those statements are Corcoran’s account. Broza’s response to the allegations and his reasons for withdrawing the application were not part of the meeting materials.

“My job is to help people in this community, regardless if I like them or I don’t like them,” Corcoran said.

Proposed budget
Corcoran outlined a proposed town operating budget of about $8 million, with total expenditures across the town and its districts estimated at about $10.45 million.

He said the 8.47% levy increase would add about $163.48 in annual town taxes for a property with a median assessed value of $217,500, which he said equals an estimated market value of about $418,000.

Corcoran identified these cost increases:
• Health insurance: about $263,532
• Retirement contributions: about $154,000
• Legal expenses: about $108,000
• Records administration, mainly additional staffing for FOIL requests: about $21,000

• State-required MS4 stormwater compliance: about $20,000

He said getting the increase below 2% would require about $500,000 in additional cuts or the use of town reserves.

Corcoran said the town spent about $98,218 on legal fees in 2025 and about $134,448 so far in 2026. He projected 2026 costs could approach $200,000, well above the town’s traditional $20,000 annual legal budget. He tied a substantial portion of the spending to the dispute with Broza. The presentation did not include an itemized breakdown of how much was attributable to Broza’s requests or litigation.

The Town Board closed its public hearings on the proposed 2027 budget and on a proposed local law that would allow the town to exceed the state property tax levy limit. Board members also approved payment of $314,732.67 in bills, including about $210,129 in water payments to Newburgh.