TOWN OF RED HOOK – The 2023 preliminary budget for the Town of Red Hook lowers the tax rate by 17 percent but calls for a $25,000 raise for the town supervisor. The 17 percent tax decrease is an attempt to offset the increase in residential assessment rates.
The public hearing on the budget is being held on November 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the town hall.
In presenting the budget, Town Supervisor Robert McKeon’s budget memo said that financial experts are warning of a recession in the near future while noting that “This budget includes additional increases for those staff not included in the collective bargaining agreement,” which is the contract between the town and union employees.
At an October 13 town board workshop that McKeon did not attend, Deputy Town Supervisor Bill Hamel spoke of the increased workload and numerous responsibilities associated with the office of town supervisor. According to the minutes, board members discussed adjusting the position to full-time with an increase in salary and also offering benefits with a buy-out option if benefits are unneeded. They used the towns of East Fishkill and Lagrange as comparisons for the increase in salary. The four members in attendance suggested that increasing the salary could encourage future supervisors to take on the full-time role as their primary job. The board members then voted unanimously to increase the salary of the supervisor.
The budget would increase the salary of the supervisor from the current $32,575 to $58,466 per year. The town clerk’s salary is slated to receive a modest increase of $1,784 per year.
McKeon said the increases are the result of governments “Trying to attract and retain valuable employees facing competition.”
The supervisor, in his second term, said, “The budget is the seventh in a row with flat or lower taxes. The tax rate for the three main funds combined is proposed to be down 17 percent to $1.81 per $1000 of assessed value,” and noted that it is among the lowest in the county. “In addition to holding the line, we’ve adopted programs, including our Community Solar, which is currently saving residents hundreds of dollars annually.”
Prior to the public hearing, the budget proposal can be viewed here.
