I have filed my proposed 2106 capital budget with the Town Board. The budget should be posted on our website: www.greenburghny.com within the next day or so.   The 2016 budget recommends borrowing $8,014, 537 –which is less than we borrowed during the past few years  ($12,880,066 in 2013, $18,001,367 in 2014 and $11,249,320 in 2015). We are working really hard trying to cut costs and to comply with the tax cap so that once again Greenburgh taxpayers will be able to receive the tax refund checks from New York State. These checks are only issued to communities that comply with the tax cap. The department budget requests that were deferred are worthy projects.  At the same time we’re recognizing that it’s important to keep taxes as low as possible while addressing essential infrastructure demands.

  Highlights in the budget include enhancing our advanced life support program by remounting of two ambulance boxes onto new chassis.   We will be replacing the boiler at the Theodore Young Community Center indoor pool. We have had to close the pool a number of times in recent years because the boiler has not been working.    The budget also includes traffic safety signs and equipment and a digital speed sign to enhance pedestrian safety.

  We’re purchasing another automated refuse collection vehicle that is expected to reduce collection costs and increase efficiencies. Reduce labor costs suggest less than a 4 year investment payoff that will help us control future service costs.

  I am recommending that $1,000,000 be appropriated for additional road resurfacing. This dollar amount is less than what was budgeted in the past. We did not spend about $3.5 million that was budgeted last year for road resurfacing so will be spending $4.5 million on road resurfacing in 2016.    The budget includes $500,000 for curbing rehabilitation and $500,000 for Jackson Ave road safety improvements.  We are still waiting for approvals from Westchester County to implement these road improvements. Route 9A widening roadway improvements that will help improve traffic flow in downtown Ardsley has also been included in the “A” budget.

  Three new sidewalks are being funded in the capital budget:   Seely Place from Ardsley Road to the school…Fort Hill Road from Ardsley Road towards Jackson Ave.  Sprain Road to the Ardsley Middle School are all part of the capital budget requests. Sidewalk funding will be included in annual budgets. Our goal: to make the town more pedestrian friendly. 

 The roof at the police department is leaking and will be replaced. Town Hall is in the process of installing a new security system and related equipment. And, significant funds are being appropriated for water department infrastructure enhancements.

  The Town Board will review the proposed capital budget and will schedule a public hearing for May 11th.

PAUL FEINER

Greenburgh Town Supervisor