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

Town Update- May 2024

May 2024 – An update from The Pelham Town Council

Spring is here in Pelham and we would like to share an update on the many services and programs brought to you by the Town of Pelham.

EMS Update: Monthly statistics from our ambulance service are posted on the Town of Pelham’s website under news and notices. Residents can also follow town Ambulance updates on instagram @townofpelhamems. Here are the April Stats for the town ambulance:

Initiatives through Sustainable  Westchester

On April 24th, Sustainable Westchester and the Village of Pelham Sustainability Board hosted an informational event at the Town House about the advantages of clean energy both heating and cooling in the home (such as with heat pumps and geothermal pumps). The event was well attended by the community. Please visit the Sustainable Westchester website  to learn more about  saving energy, composting, nurturing our ecosystem, and measuring our carbon footprints. There are examples of how to reduce, reuse, and recycle to conserve natural resources, protect the environment, and save money. 

And speaking of recycling…save the date, the Westchester County mobile shredder will return to Pelham on Saturday, July 20th from 10am-1pm. It will be parked in the parking lot behind the townhouse. Residents can bring up to four file-sized (10”x12”x15”) boxes of confidential papers per household. Remove all large binder clips and covers. 

Remember, it’s best to shred documents you’re no longer using, that contain personal identifying information such as name, address, phone number, credit card number or social security number. Such documents should be shredded before they are thrown out for recycling. Some examples are: expired credit card statements and receipts, old tax returns or any other personal documents containing your name, address or other identifying information. Pre-approved credit card applications and licenses.

Recreation

Are you interested in learning how to play Pickleball? Pelham Recreation is hosting “Learn to Play Pickleball” session for 4 weeks beginning Saturday, May 4th at 8am at Julianne’s playground- to register online click here 

The Pelham Recreation Department runs summer clinics, camps and programming. The full day Pelham Day Camp is waiting list only, but there is still availability in tiny tots and big tots half day programs and there is still availability for weekly specialty Summer Camp registration. There are also clinics in volleyball, karate, tennis and more, please visit the Pelham recreation website for more information or call (914) 738-0153.

Winter recreation basketball finished a successful season- The 4th and 5th grade girls from Colonial School  and 4th and 5th grade boys from Siwanoy school celebrated being Rec basketball champs with pizza and trophies at Daronco Townhouse on April 8th. Two Pelham boys teams and two girls teams won at the county championship played at the Westchester County Center. 

Pelham Senior Citizens used the town van 54 times in March for rides to medical appointments.  Other activities in March included: cookie decorating with Pelham Together, line dancing, St. Patrick’s Day luncheon hosted by the Civics, pizza day, field trip to Westchester Culinary Arts program for lunch, arts and crafts, exercise /yoga class and cards. For more information on senior programs and to reserve the senior van for medical appointments, please call the Pelham Senior Advocate Carolyn Veith at 914-738-5004.

Two AED/CPR training classes took place – one in March and one in April. The Town hopes to extend more classes to community members in the near future.  

The Pelham Together teen advisory board went to Albany to participate in Mental Health Matters Day.  They met with Assemblywoman Paulin and Senator Fernandez to discuss mental health issues.  They will follow up with a wellness pitch to present to the school and the recreation department and attempt to obtain pilot funding.  The Rec department and Pelham Together are working on a child abuse and neglect identification program to present to summer camp directors. Pelham Together has an $8,000 grant for entrepreneurial programs including the Pelicones truck. There was a Pelham Together program on April 17 about connectedness and belonging. 

The Library

The month of May is busy at the Pelham Public Library- Battle of the Books is back! For adults there is a virtual talk from Minidoka National Historic Site, demystifying Medicare and tips on energy saving at home. The whole family can visit museums, join us for stories and dances from Colombia, and explore our AAPI month resource list. For all this and more, please see their calendar of events

Did you know? 

Residents can drop off single use batteries and gently used eyeglasses at the library and they will be recycled. 

Tuesdays are Digitizing Days at the library: Our Time-Warp Tuesdays have started. This new program for digitizing photos has been a great success. Bring in your family photos and our librarians will assist you with scanning them to a USB drive using our new high-speed scanner. Appointments are required for a 45-minute session. To learn all of the details and to register, please click here

The library recently received a $1,200 grant for Latino poetry and plans to have two programs – one in late September and another in early October 2024 in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage month.

Save the date: This is an off year for Novel Night, so the Friends of the Pelham Library will be hosting a “Booktember” fundraiser on the library lawn on September 28. More details will be available soon.

There are many more activities scheduled- for more information please go to the library website– there are book clubs, crafts, sewing classes and English as a second language classes. You can also call the library at (914) 738-1234.

Town Courts

Information regarding court hours of operation and contact information for court clerks can be found on the Town Court webpage: https://townofpelham.com/courts/