Mamaroneck previews 2025 budget with $3.2M tax-levy increase; residents press fee, allocation changes

The Town Board of the Town of Mamaroneck on Dec. 4 presented a preliminary 2025 budget that increases expenses by about $2.9 million and proposes a roughly $3.2 million increase in the property tax levy, while using $2.4 million from fund balance to limit the levy impact.

The supervisor said the preliminary budget funds current service levels, supports capital priorities tied to the town’s comprehensive plan and relies on a mix of tax levy, departmental fees and appropriated fund balance. Presenter Tracy said the budget shows $56,400,000 in projected revenue, a $9.2 million capital program and that personnel services and benefits account for about $1.8 million of the $2.9 million expense increase.

Why it matters: the board must balance maintaining services and capital projects with taxpayer impacts. The presenters said some cost increases are mandatory (pension and contractual obligations) while others are discretionary.

“We are appropriating a fund balance of almost $2,500,000,” the presenter said, noting the preliminary budget includes $1,000,000 for operations and $1,400,000 for capital. The presenter also pointed to a $1,400,000 offset to debt service driven by investment earnings and bond premiums.

The presentation included tax-rate examples: under the preliminary figures, the townwide tax levy would rise about $3.2 million — a levy increase the presenters described as roughly 9.95% relative to current assessed values — and the presenter illustrated impacts on average-assessed homes and on residents living in the Villages of Larchmont and Mamaroneck.

Public reaction at the hearing focused on alternatives to a levy increase. Ghassan Bejani, a village resident, asked whether the town has asked residents which services they would accept cutting rather than raising taxes, and said, “If my tax is going up by 10%, then I would want everything else to go up by the same amount or maybe by less so that everybody shares in the burden.”

Michael, a commenter who provided detailed suggestions, urged the board to re-check insurance-rate assumptions that were built into the preliminary budget and to consider a sanitation fee. He told the board a $60-per-month fee could generate roughly $2.2 million in fee revenue and shift most sanitation costs off the levy. “You would generate $2,200,000 worth of fees,” Michael said, arguing the fee would also improve cash flow.

The board noted a late development that slightly improved the outlook: presenters said New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) rates arrived lower than the conservative estimate used in the preliminary budget (the budget assumed a 10% increase; the updated figure cited in the hearing was about a 2.5% increase), reducing one contingency line.

What happens next: the board closed the public hearing on Dec. 4 and will continue budget deliberations with a target to act on the budget at its next regular meeting (the supervisor said the next regular meeting is Dec. 18). Town staff said they will re-examine assumptions flagged by commenters and follow up on allocation and fee options as the board refines the preliminary numbers.

Clarifying details: presenters said building-permit revenue increased by about $300,000 and combined fee increases (recreation, water, police, ambulance) add roughly $1,000,000 in revenue; the presenters estimated the overall 2025 revenue at $56.4 million and described the tax levy and fund-balance appropriation as shown in the preliminary documents.

The hearing record is expected to inform final changes before the board votes on the adopted budget later this month.