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  

Happy New Year & Town Update

 

The Pelham Town Board would like to extend best wishes to all of our Pelham neighbors for a happy, healthy and safe New Year, and are hopeful that we will be able to carry on with our lives in an uninterrupted fashion in 2022.

As we close out 2021, the Town Board would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to outgoing Board Member, Tim Case.  Tim served as a Councilmember for the past 10 years and before that he served as the Town Clerk for Pelham for two years.  He functioned as the Board’s liaison to the Pelham Recreation Department, for which Tim spent innumerable hours working to better the services and programs of the Department.  He was instrumental in adding programs as well as expanding current programs.  Tim, with a background in finance, also contributed significantly in helping the Town manage its budget over the past ten years.  Tim’s affable personality during monthly board meetings and budget work sessions, and his competent leadership throughout his tenure, will be greatly missed.  Tim was honored with a plaque by Town Supervisor Dan McLaughlin at the Town’s Holiday Dinner on December 14, 2021.

We would like to share an updated from Westchester County government including testing and vaccination resources and helpful phone numbers. 
 
Westchester County Data as of 1/1/2022
3,307 new cases
13,698 tests
24.2% testing positivity

 

Westchester Vaccinations
730,542 Completed Vaccinations
826,337 At least one shot (85.4%)
95.6% of 18+ population have at least one vaccine dose
44.1% of 5-11 population at least one vaccine dose
88.8% of 12-17 population at least one vaccine dose 
85.7% of 18-25 population at least one vaccine dose 

 

·        The town  participated in picking up and distributing the KN95 masks and testing kits over the last week and distributed to residents
·         Following the distribution of testing kits last week, Westchester County’s supply of testing kits is fully exhausted. 
·         Free PCR testing is available at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. Testing is only available for symptomatic persons or those with known exposure  this testing is not for travel. Testing is by appointment only.
o   An error on the vendor’s website currently indicates that no tests are available from January 3rd to February 2nd. New tests will be available for scheduling every day on this website. We are working with the vendor to update the website.
o   Testing is available at Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon at 52 S 6th Avenue. This site will be open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. The site will provide rapid tests and may provide PCR tests at a later date and time.
o   Those in need of a test can additionally use the New York State COVID-19 Test Site Finder to find test sites near them: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/find-test-site-near-you
o   Those in need of a test can also call the New York State COVID-19 Hotline at 888-364-3065
o   Those in need of a test can also make appointments at Westchester Medical Center’s COVID-19 Testing Site in Valhalla by calling 914-202-4530
o   Governor Hochul today announced that testing would be available at SUNY Purchase in the near future. This testing site is not yet online, but we will be sure to update you when testing at SUNY Purchase is available. 
·         Today the FDA amended the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. The CDC still has to weigh in and issue final clinical recommendations, meaning these recommendations are not yet final, but the initial changes are as follows:
o   Eligibility for boosters is recommended to include individuals aged 12-15.
o   The time between a 2nd dose and a booster shot is recommended to be shortened to 5 months.
o   A third primary series dose was authorized for certain immunocompromised children aged 5-11 years, to be administered 4 weeks after the 2nd dose.
§  Children aged 5-11 who are not immunocompromised do not need a 3rd dose at this time, but the FDA continues to monitor the situation.
·         This week’s COVID-19 Satellite Sites are as follows:
o   Tuesday, January 4th: 
Croton OVAC – 1st dose
Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary School
2:45 PM – 6:45 PM
o   Tuesday, January 4th 
Columbus School, New Rochelle – 1st dose
275 Washington Ave
3:30 PM – 7:00 PM
o   Wednesday, January 5th
Port Chester Middle School – 2nd Dose
113 Bowman Avenue, Rye Brook
3:30 PM – 7:00 PM
o   Thursday, January 6th
Chappaqua Robert E. Bell Middle School – 2nd dose
50 Senter Street
3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
o   Friday, January 7th 
Yonkers Eugenio Maria de Hostos Microsociety School
2nd dose

75 Morris Street
3:30 PM – 7:00 PM
o   Saturday, January 8th 
Peekskill Middle School – 2nd dose
212 Ringgold Street
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
·         New York State is providing an additional vaccination site at the Grinton I. Will Library at 1500 Central Park Ave in Yonkers on the following dates:
o   1/8/2022: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

o   1/29/2022: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM