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Hampshire staff proposes SSA levy increases to steady fund balances for White Oak Ponds and Hampshire Hills
Summary
Staff presented proposed levy increases for two Special Service Areas — White Oak Ponds and Hampshire Hills — citing negative fund balances and ongoing maintenance costs (notably contracted burning). For White Oak Ponds, staff proposed a roughly 15% increase for FY26 that would add an estimated $13–$15 annually for a $250,000 home; trustees pressed for alternatives to burning and discussed adding parcels to reduce per‑home burden.
Village staff presented a detailed review of the village’s Special Service Areas (SSAs), focusing on White Oak Ponds (SSA #10) and Hampshire Hills.
Staff said White Oak Ponds’ fund balance has been running negative and recommended a roughly 15% levy increase for fiscal year 2026 (to approximately $21,390 total levy for the SSA), which staff estimated would increase taxes on a home with a market value of $250,000 by roughly $13–$15 per year. Staff said some maintenance tasks — including spraying and mowing — have been brought in‑house, saving about $20,000 in one recent period, but that contracted burning remains a recurring and relatively costly maintenance item.
For Hampshire Hills, staff described a recent large clearing project that drove the SSA negative; the area will likely see more moderate increases when planned burns resume. Staff said they are investigating adding roughly $6 million in EAV from additional parcels that, if added to the SSA, could reduce the per‑home levy by an estimated 30% for White Oak Ponds.
Trustees questioned whether the village could instead buy equipment and train staff to perform burning in‑house; staff and public‑safety officials cautioned that controlled burns carry risks and that prior contracted burns have led to neighborhood fire incidents. Trustees asked for more analysis on alternatives and asked staff to circulate the corrected spreadsheet and packet materials; staff said the presentation was informational and no board action was required at the meeting.
