While many towns are exceeding the 2025 New York state-mandated tax cap – some raising taxes by as much as 11.4% – I am pleased to announce that our town’s 2025 budget is once again below the state-mandated tax cap of 2%. During my time as your supervisor, I have never exceeded the tax cap and have consistently worked to lower the tax rate. As a nation, we are moving beyond the hyperinflation that followed the COVID-19 pandemic, but inflation remains a challenge, causing some services to cost nearly double compared to my first budget as supervisor.
Last spring, the town reassessed over 13,000 parcels to maintain an assessment rate as close to 100% as possible. I previously communicated that this reassessment would result in a lower town tax rate. Most property owners saw little change in their property taxes following this reassessment. In the 2025 budget, the town tax rate has decreased by almost 15 cents, from 74 cents to 59 cents per thousand. Most households will be paying under $300 for their town general fund tax. The highway rate has also been reduced, from just over a dollar to 74 cents per thousand.
The upcoming year’s budget maintains all existing town programs and services. The town and local fire companies continue to secure grants, allowing us to provide uninterrupted services without raising taxes. Recent grants have been awarded for sidewalks and park improvements. Additionally, we received American Rescue Plan funds, which must be allocated and used by March of next year. With the completion of the new highway campus, including Clarence Center’s first pocket park, we are moving forward with plans to convert the old highway building into our town’s first recreation center using ARP funds and county grants. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the town department heads, unions and fire companies for their diligent efforts in adhering to my budget guidelines. Without your cooperation, staying below the tax cap would have been a significant challenge.
Congratulations to the Clarence Center Volunteer Fire Company for another successful Labor Day Fair weekend. Despite brief rain showers over the four days, our community enjoyed a wonderful end-of-summer fair. Thank you to all the firefighters and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event a success. This year, the entire Labor Day parade was staged at the new highway department campus, providing a safer and more organized setting than previous years on the side streets of Clarence Center. Thank you to Highway Superintendent Jamie Dussing and all the Highway Department employees for coordinating the parade and providing refreshments to the attendees.
I would like to extend my best wishes to all students and teachers for a successful school year ahead. We are truly fortunate to have such an exceptional school system, which remains one of the greatest advantages of living in our town. This year, the school board made the important decision to add an additional school resource officer, bringing our total to three full-time officers. After a recommendation from the school board, the town board will officially appoint this individual at our meeting this Wednesday, Sept. 11. I commend the school board for prioritizing this initiative, as the safety of our community, particularly our students, will always be of utmost importance.