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Board clash over budget mailing and $39M courthouse reserve accounting
Summary
Board members disputed a supervisor's budget mailing and whether $39 million earmarked for a courthouse was left restricted in prior budgets; members asked for clearer, jointly vetted language and for the controller to review fund classifications.
A sharp exchange over budget mailings and how a courthouse reserve was recorded dominated the Greenburgh Town Board's Dec. 16 work session.
A board member questioned a recent mailing that described a proposed 3% increase and said the message contained inaccurate phrasing about which taxes would be affected. "We're not affecting village taxes," another member said, urging controller review of any future mailings. Members pressed for a unified, vetted mailing to reduce public confusion.
The meeting also turned to accounting questions about a courthouse reserve. One member said the budget had shown $39,000,000 reserved for the courthouse but that, over time, only roughly $7.4 million remained as restricted funds. "There's $32,000,000 that came out of the courthouse," the member said, arguing the money was not being held in the restricted line as expected. Others explained the technical difference between "reserved" and "restricted" and said the controller's office should clarify the classification in the ledger.
Paul defended prior decisions, saying he had relied on advice from the controller and the auditors when earlier budgets were prepared and that he believed the town had acted in good faith. "If the auditors had told me something was wrong, I would have immediately made changes," he said, and promised that future reserved funds would be clearly documented.
Why it matters: The dispute concerns how large sums earmarked for capital (a courthouse) were accounted for and how the board communicates fiscal decisions to residents; both accounting treatment and messaging affect public trust ahead of the budget vote.
What’s next: Several members proposed a collaboratively drafted mailing vetted by the controller and requested clearer documentation about the courthouse reserve history; the board asked staff and the controller’s office to provide records and clarifications before the Dec. 17 meeting.
