Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lewisboro board adopts 2026 budget, applies fund balance to meet tax cap after public hearing
Summary
After public comment on affordability, the Lewisboro Town Board adopted a 2026 budget and passed a local law to permit tax-cap overrides; the board used $633,541 in fund balance (including highway surplus) and pared two positions to meet the cap.
The Lewisboro Town Board voted to adopt the town's 2026 operating budget after a public hearing in which residents urged fiscal restraint and protection for seniors. The final package uses $633,541 of fund balance, including a $50,000 highway surplus transfer, and included two edits — making a court-clerk position part-time and holding town-board stipends flat — intended to bring the plan under the state tax-cap benchmark.
The board also moved earlier in the meeting to pass a local law that preserves the town's legal ability to exceed the state tax cap if subsequently needed, a procedural measure several members described as a safeguard. One board member recorded a dissenting vote during the roll call on the tax-cap local law.
Why it matters: Residents repeatedly told the board that even modest local increases affect people on fixed incomes and long-time homeowners. At least three public commenters urged the board to 'vote no' on breaking the tax cap and to prioritize essentials.
Residents and board discussion: Simone Okconor told the board, "Vote no to give yourselves the authority to do so…municipalities need to exercise fiscal discipline and not override it." Maryanne Lucino said the tax cap helps "encourage fiscal discipline, long-term planning, and careful prioritization" and warned that a one-time override can become a trend.
Town staff and members laid out why budget pressure mounted. Controller Annie said higher health-insurance costs (a cited 9% increase), retirement and other line items, plus the addition of two police officers and a larger paving program, were the primary drivers. "Health insurance is up 9%…and retirement went up 12% — every department is up more than what the tax cap allows," Annie said.
Board adjustments and vote: To close a remaining gap staff and board proposed a set of line edits and use of surplus. Board member Tony presented a pie-chart illustration of how the town portion fits into a typical homeowner's tax bill to contextualize the increase. The board agreed to make the court clerk position part-time (reducing salary costs) and to keep town-board stipends flat; with those changes and the applied fund balance the board adopted the final budget by roll call, with members including Rich, Mary Shaw and Dan Walsh recording "yes" votes.
What's next: The board signaled intent to pursue borrowing in early 2026 for known capital needs and to re-examine health-insurance options and staff benefits as part of next year's planning cycle. Several members warned that relying on fund balance repeatedly is a risk and urged careful long-term capital planning.
Authorities referenced: the discussion repeatedly referenced the New York State tax-cap mechanism (2.5% benchmark discussed in meeting comments) and the local law to permit an override. The board also cited advice from the state controller when framing the local-law protection.
Ending: The board adopted the budget and concluded the public hearings; discussions on capital borrowing and specific capital projects were scheduled for follow-up sessions.
