Town of Pelham 2025 Proposed Budget: Town Budget Memo 2025 In recent discussions, the Town Council carefully reviewed and ultimately voted to break the tax cap to present the 2025 town budget. This decision was not made lightly, but it was necessary to cover critical increases in costs that affect the community’s essential services and operational needs. To provide context, the 2024 budget appropriations were $6,703,375.16, with revenues of $3,364,559.48, resulting in a need to raise $3,338,815.68 through taxes. For 2025, the town’s total appropriations have increased to $7,182,220.84, with projected revenues of $3,254,981.29. To help offset this, $280,000 is being drawn from the town’s fund reserve, but the amount to be raised by taxes will still increase to $3,647,239.55—a necessary rise to maintain vital town operations and improvements. Key areas requiring this additional funding include: Police Facility Renovation: $100,000 is being earmarked for capital improvements for our town hall which are critical to maintain and upgrade the facilities when the Village of Pelham Police department relocates to the new Village Municipal center in 2025. We are also actively seeking grant money to assist us with the costs of this necessary project. Ambulance Contract: Includes an increase by $64,000 – This is a contractual expense for timely, quality emergency medical services for all residents. Library Budget: Includes an Increase of  $54,000 – Supporting our library services, a community hub for education and resources, remains a priority for the town. Insurance: Rising costs include a medical insurance increase of 10% and a liability Insurance increase of 15% Mandated Retirement and Employment Benefits: Increased by $44,500 – As mandated costs rise, meeting these obligations is essential to support our employees’ future financial security. The impact taxpayers can expect is as follows: 2024 Tax on a home assessed at 1 Million  was $754.78 (homestead) 2025 Tax on a home assessed at 1 Million is $777.37 (homestead) The increase is $22.59 The Town Council will hold a budget hearing on Monday, December 2nd at 7pm on the 2nd floor of Town Hall. All residents are invited to review the preliminary budget and be heard during public comment. Preliminary Budget 2025  

Town of Pelham

Posted on , by Maura Curtin

Happy New Year from the Town of Pelham

Dear Pelham Friends and Neighbors:

As the year 2020 draws to a close, we reflect on a time that was extremely challenging for everyone, most especially those who fell ill to COVID-19 or lost a loved one to the virus, and who have faced other difficulties, such as financial hardship and educational challenges. The Town of Pelham is especially grateful to be a part of a community that rallied to support one another, our small businesses, our first responders, our schools, and local families in need.

Despite a number of hurdles, the Town of Pelham is happy to report that we are in a stable financial position.  We came in under budget for 2020, due in large part to the Recreation Department’s ability to quickly pivot and continue recreational programming, even while adhering to all of the safety requirements relating to COVID-19.   For the Town’s 2021 budget (which was approved at our last board meeting on December 14, 2020), there is only a slight increase in appropriations (.1013%) and a small increase in property taxes (1.495% of the overall amount collected).  We believe the slight increase in property taxes was needed due to the fact that some of the Town’s reserve funds will be expended on a critical upgrade to the Town’s phone lines, and to slightly increase the Town’s overall reserve funds in the event of another catastrophic event, such as a pandemic strike and we need more of a financial cushion.

We are hopeful that 2021 will bring a lot of positive changes.  While we still have a few difficult months ahead of us, and some of the Town functions are still somewhat limited, with the vaccine being rolled out and continued vigilance on the part of community members, we hope that life in the Town of Pelham will resemble some form of normalcy by the second half of 2021.

We wish everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Sincerely,

Dan McLaughlin, Supervisor

Rae Szymanski, Deputy Supervisor

Kristen Burke, Councilwoman

Timothy Case, Councilman

Maura Curtin, Councilwoman