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Pelham board adopts local law enabling override of property tax levy limit after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing, the Village of Pelham Board of Trustees adopted Local Law No. 1 of 2026, which allows the village to override the real property tax levy limit established by General Municipal Law §3‑c if needed; trustees cited rising health and retirement costs and phased flood‑mitigation planning as drivers.
The Village of Pelham Board of Trustees opened and adopted Local Law No. 1 of 2026 on Jan. 13, a procedural measure that allows the village to override the real property tax levy limit under General Municipal Law §3‑c if the board determines it necessary during budget adoption.
The presiding official explained the procedure before the public hearing, saying many municipalities hold the hearing and adopt the local law early in the budget cycle so they can lawfully override the tax cap later in the process if required. Board members cited sharply rising personnel costs — notably health insurance and retirement — and a recently ordered ladder truck whose debt service will begin in the coming fiscal year as pressure points on the upcoming budget.
Residents at the hearing urged fiscal restraint and long‑term planning. Greg Spach asked trustees to seek cuts where possible and to account for external cost pressures such as utility rate increases; the presiding official and trustees described a line‑by‑line budget review and said the village may phase large capital costs to avoid a single, large tax increase. Marilyn White urged the board to consider consolidating municipal facilities and pursuing payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes (PILOT) discussions with large nonprofit property owners to lower fixed municipal costs.
After public comment the board closed the hearing, moved to consider adoption of Local Law No. 1 of 2026 and approved the measure by voice vote; no opposition was recorded on the floor. The resolution concerns only the village's ability to override the statutory levy limit as needed during the budget process; if the board ultimately does not need to exceed the cap it may repeal the local law after budget adoption, a step the presiding official described as part of typical practice.
Next steps: the village will continue the budget process, with any decision to actually exceed the tax cap made later in the fiscal timeline and accompanied by further public notice and hearings.
