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Fallsburg passes 2023 budget

By Patricio Robayo
Posted 12/6/22

FALLSBURG — The Town of Fallsburg passed their 2023 budget during their November 14 Town Board meeting held in South Fallsburg.

The $13.5 million 2023 budget is a 1.43 percent increase over …

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Fallsburg passes 2023 budget

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FALLSBURG — The Town of Fallsburg passed their 2023 budget during their November 14 Town Board meeting held in South Fallsburg.

The $13.5 million 2023 budget is a 1.43 percent increase over last year, with $9.2 million needed to be raised by taxes.

Add on the lighting districts, garbage, sewer, parking, water, and fire districts; the budget rises to $23.3 million.

The significant increases come from gas and oil as inflation still affects the local economy, and the cost to operate the equipment used by the Fallsburg Highway Department and town vehicles are becoming more expensive.

Furthermore, the increases arrive from healthcare costs for town employees across every department.

“The Board had to take a hard look at the entire budget to try and stay under the cap,” explained Fallsburg’s Comptroller, Scott DuBois, regarding the rising cost of supplies, fuel, and health insurance. 

“Thankfully there was growth with the assessment to help offset the increases that needed to be made.”

Looking ahead to 2023, Deputy Supervisor Sean Wall-Carty said there are many projects in the works for the new year and for years ahead.

While the Sullivan County Legislature and SUNY Sullivan explore bringing a sizeable recreational facility to Fallsburg, the town will investigate building and improving the business district around the potential new recreational facility in Fallsburg.

According to Wall-Carty, the budget comes at a time when the town is starting a large municipal project to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant in South Fallsburg. The age of the system and the influx of new homes and businesses have taken their toll on the current plant.

As Fallsburg grows and more housing projects are being developed, the flow to South Fallsburg has increased, and the town says the upgrade will help meet those growing needs, especially during July and August, when the population grows.

Wall-Carty said the town is looking to start more “community-based” projects.

The town is looking to start the process of upgrading the South Fallsburg Rail and Trail entrance as one of its newest parks.

Moreover, Wall-Carty said the Fallsburg Police Reform committee would be revamped into the Police Engagement Committee (PEC) while adding two volunteer police commissioners.

“We believe this name change accurately represents the idea that our members of law enforcement should and can be an obvious and active part of the Fallsburg community,” said Wall-Carty.

According to Wall-Carty, the commissioners will not be elected officials but someone from the public who wishes to be part of the committee.

Those commissioners would act as liaisons to the public, and Wall-Carty said the changes were brought on by the surveys and “what residents were asking for.”

Wall-Carty said that the volunteer Police Commissioners will have the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities as a Town Police Commissioner and will need to pass a background check.

Wall-Carty added, “We want to give them [the committee] the tools to be wildly successful.”

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