Supervisor warns Goshen budget may exceed 2% cap; outlines revenue drops and past use of fund balance

During public comment at the Town Board meeting Aug. 28, 2025, Supervisor (name not recorded in the transcript) told residents the town’s preliminary budget may exceed New York State’s 2% property tax cap and summarized recent revenue declines that have tightened options.

Resident Chris Healy raised the cap during public comment and asked whether the town would include a previously discussed commercial water district line item in the coming budget. The Supervisor said that the draft budget will be delivered to the board in final form in the next two weeks and acknowledged pressure on the town’s revenues.

The Supervisor listed recent declines in revenue streams: mortgage tax collections fell from about $600,000 to about $300,000; hotel tax receipts dropped by about $300,000 following the closing of Lakeland Heights; and sales tax receipts are flat. He said those losses, together with other pressures, reduce the town’s ability to rely on fund balance to hold the line on the tax cap.

“Just so you know, we came in under the 2% because I took $300,000 out of fund balance. I can’t keep doing that every year,” the Supervisor said. He added that this year the town used $100,000 from fund balance to reach its adopted target. The Supervisor said the current draft would increase taxes for a representative assessed‑value home: "If it went out right now as it is today... an assessed value home would be paying a $175 more a year." He said staff are reviewing cuts to reduce the final increase.

The Supervisor said the final budget will be presented to the board in roughly two weeks, pending numbers from the assessor’s office and other inputs. He asked for patience while staff complete the numbers and finalize the document for board consideration.