UPDATED: During the past 2 months of proposed budget review, there had been several resident complaints about a significant increase in the Mayor Tom DeVinko, since he began of Mayor on a part-time basis and is now full-time. Two residents stood fast that his positions should be a community service with little to no associated income, or at most a 3% increase. However, especially since his salary is still right at the very low end of full-time Mayors in New York, others said that especially in today's economy it is not fair to expect a professional to either work for free or be paid less than his new amount of $40,000. The other Board members, who are all classified as Part-Time but often assist with overtime chores, will also see an increase, Deputy Mayor Donna Jacaruso to $12,000 (the NEXT Deputy Mayor will receive a $4k increase in April) and Steven Presser, Vernon Coleman and Susan Cohen-Walski $12,500. Also, since they all agreed that the Board is doing a good job, bringing up the idea of hiring a City (Municipal) Manager would be 'not just wasteful' but would cost well in excess of double the Mayor's $40k (and with no relevant background to base decisions on.) DeVinko clarified for anyone who wanted to know, that while he receives some pension from other jobs he held years ago, and does have a Home Inspector's License, he is now ONLY working as Mayor of Washingtonville, a job which he added is not only fuill-time but requires plenty of overtime. And he and the other Board members do not receive any health or other financial benefits.
Washingtonville Village Board answers a few remaining questions before unanimously voting to approve the 2025-2026 budget increase which, due primarily to: 1. massive debt they walked into when beginning the term, 2. A State shortage on CHIPS road repair monies in the State 2024-2025 Highway Budget, 3. Catching up on many previously unrecorded bills and replacing water meters that in the long run will save money, 4. A large increase in healthcare costs for village employees, .... all of the above resulting in a 14.93% tax increase. One would expect that with those issues now being resolved the property tax burden will have a good chance of beginning to level out by the end of this year, and nearly half of the State procured loan remains in the event of a serious emergency. However, the Board has vowed it will not use more of that loan unless absolutely necessary.,
As far as looking toward possible additional Village income sources that they think can show financial progress offsetting the 4 significant factors that contributed to this year's property tax income, they have several line items that could lead them toward a more stable financial future. The main factors that they believe can improve the Village's financial future are as follows:
1) The Village will explore a Shared Services Agreement with the Town of Blooming Grove for Court Sessions. DeVinko said that the Highway Department's Shared Services Agreement with the Town has saved about half of their entire Highway Department's budget. It also keeps residents much safer since if there is an emergency Wayne Kirkpatrick (Town of Blooming Grove Highway Superintendent) can have staff and a variety of both small and large equipment immediately available to assist.
2) The massive debt they walked into, has and will continue to decrease as increasing amounts of it have been paid. The remaining balance of the state loan they had to take to keep the Village solvent will be converted from BANs to Bonds soon, which generally are available at a lower interest rate.
3) As the records are brought up to date they are able to compare line items quarter to quarter and be more aware of potential forthcoming issues with enough time to mitigate impact, and also to notice where their actions have led to success.
4) Asked whether there is space for any additional commercial warehouse-type business in the Village's small Industrial Park, DeVinko said that there is very little additional space, but that one of the largest companies in the IP has plans to build a large second building, and that will be a positive impact on the tax base.
5) Installation of new water meters is ongoing and expensive; however, the Village will no longer be losing income because of faulty meters, and it will not be wasting water through leaks. They expect that the more correct readings will bring money in, and the Village will also save money eventually by not needing to pay water/sewer personnel to read meters in person.
As of last week, the Village had not heard back yet from the State Comptroller's Office about how much they will be permitted to keep in a "Rainy Day Fund". to buffer any unexpected costs. Until they are given a specific range they are including a generous portion in predicted line item costs that can cover small or moderate maintenance costs.
Resident suggestions included finishing the code for "Airbnb's", which they say there are already a lot of in the Village, and that they should be receiving an "Occupancy Tax"for, a portion of the site's profits as many other municipalities do. Also, as long as water is plentiful, they said the Village should make the most of being able to sell some of it.
VILLAGE EVENT COMMITTEE DIGS INTO
ABOUT TWO DOZEN EVENTS
PLANNED FOR 2025
Last week's Village of Washingtonville Event Committe, held a lengthy work session, filling out their lists, time tables, descriptions, supply needs and contacts for this year's coming Events. And now they are having to plan for events so large that some preparations will take a year and a half (See this week's story in the Courier Journal about the Village of Washingtonville having been chosen for the site of the September 26, 2026 Orange County Firemen's Parade).
Lastly, with the Village having an Event Calendar that is growing by leaps and bounds, they are looking at a moderate cost increase for vendor space, at least enough to help cover the expense that the Village has for the overtime of police and DPW help, but being very careful not to negatively impact the great crowds that are now attending and the quality of vendor products and performances. Committee members pointed out other benefits that the Village receives from holding these events. Not only is there the money spent by visitors that helps shop owners' profitibility as well as the sakes tax, some visitors have actually either set up shop themselves in Washingtonville, and some have bought homes. As of now the Committee is helping by covering some of the hired security and cleanup costs themselves, and that comes out of just a few fundraising events they hold during the year..
In a lively discussion between the meeting's attendees and the Village's very hardworking Event Committee, members clarified just how much of the work they do themselves, and that their work is done totally as volunteers. They earn nothing for all of this hard work and then there is also the economic burden for their travels, materials they buy for decorations, hiring of performers staging and many other costs. Members of the Committee each have full-time jobs as well, so much of the preparatory work, Justine Maiorino of Guilty Pleasures said, is done before we go to work at 8am.
Like Mayor DeVinko, Justine and the other Event Committee members emphasized, "We do this because we love our community!"
STAY TUNED FOR A PEEK INTO 2025-2026 EVENT COMMITTEE CALENDAR ITEMS DISCUSSED AT THEIR FIRST PLANNING SESSION OF the New Year.
And PLEASE contact them if you have some time to help with the massive work it requires!
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