Dear Neighbors:

The Village of Croton-on-Hudson, like all communities in our country, faces grave economic uncertainty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Nonetheless, thanks to the Village staff and my colleagues on the Board of Trustees, we adopted a budget beneath the property tax cap.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the  consequent drop in economic activity, the Village Manager forecast an estimated $1M reduction in Village revenues.
Between the publication of the Village Manager’s tentative budget in March and the adoption of the final budget on Monday, the Board met with our department heads to find  savings.  In that time, we cut 415,38 from the operating budget and $4,701,675 from the capital budget.

Even with these economies, the Village will still be able to provide key services to residents: EMS, Fire, Parks & Recreation, Police, Sanitation and Sewer & Water.
The Board of Trustees continued investments in the Village’s future with our revised capital budget, including: the Croton Point Ave/Veterans Plaza Improvements; general road repairs; Village-wide stormwater improvements; telecommunications upgrades for our first-responders; breathing apparatus for our  volunteer firefighters; and water main improvements.

The Village does all of this even though it’s just ¼ of the typical homeowner’s property tax bill–with the remainder going to the Town, the County and the School District.

Congress may consider assistance to municipalities to restore revenues lost to the COVID-19 crisis. Should this occur,  Trustees and I will be steadfast in working to ensure that Croton receives its fair share.

In the meantime, thanks to the creativity and diligence of our Village Manager, Treasurer and the leaders of our Village departments, we were able to adopt a budget with a tax levy $155,222 below the property tax cap.

Brian Pugh, Mayor Croton-on-Hudson