No Tax Increase for 2014

The budget that I've presented to the Village Board for the April 7th meeting has a lot of good in it. The 2014-2015 budget will include no tax increases for the third consecutive year-- the first time this has happened since between 1997 and 2000.

Some highlights in the budget:

- $2,000 more for funding Middleburgh's park projects, spearheaded by Trustee Bill Morton.
- A $20,000 one-time increase in Fire Department funding for long-needed repairs in the firehouse.
- Additional funding for street and sidewalk repair.
- Putting aside additional money for the Youth Commission, which runs the pool and summer programs.

These policies have saved homeowners a significant amount. The previous administration raised taxes an average of 2.66% per year. Zero tax increases compared to that rate means that the average homeowner has saved $139 over the last three years.

DCC to Hold 9th Annual Annual Meeting

The Dam Concerned Citizens will be holding its ninth annual meeting on Tuesday, April 8th at 7pm at the Fultonham Union Church on Route 30. Representatives from the NYC DEP will speak on the Gilboa Dam renovation progress and the operations support tools that the organization is putting into place. There will be news about the three proposed USGS dam gauges along the Schoharie Creek. All are invited.

Fourth Volunteer Day Aids Three Office Spaces

Three office spaces in the Village were worked on yesterday, March 22nd by over a dozen volunteers, mainly coming from the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity from SUNY Oneonta. SALT provided the materials for the projects. The group has assisted in two other volunteer days. This is the fourth volunteer day that we've organized since I took office two years ago and this has been a wonderful way to fix up flood damage and raise community spirit!

More Flood Damaged Office Space Ready to Repair

More flood damage being repaired in the business district.

 We've been very fortunate to have many partners in the flood recovery process, especially SALT Recovery. You may have noticed three locations that SALT and Southern Valley Recovery is working on in the business district (two on Main Street, one on Railroad Avenue) after the Village and building owners requested assistance.

 Time for two more locations to get fixed. Starting next Saturday, March 22nd, two more office spaces located on the Railroad Avenue side of 308 Main Street (two doors down from Value Village) will be fixed in a cooperation between SALT, the Village and the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity at SUNY Oneonta. SALT is providing the plans and materials, my office is coordinating efforts, and Phi Kappa Psi (which has helped at two previous volunteer days) is providing much of the labor. The project will start this week.

If anyone would like to volunteer their time, please message me or give me a call at 763-6854. I'll be there next Saturday if anyone would like to walk in and help out. We need all hands on deck to restore another portion of the business district!

Free Health Screening April 9th

The Cancer Services Program of Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie counties is offering FREE health screenings to women 40 and older who are uninsured. There will be a FREE screening at The National Bank of Coxsackie Middleburgh Branch on Wednesday, April 9th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 1-888-345-0225 for your appointment.

Community Welcoming New Flood Recovery Partner

The Village is proud to report that we will have another VISTA Volunteer to aid us with flood recovery. Starting tomorrow, the secretary of the Business Association and good friend Sheila Donegan will start at the office. She will work for both regional and local development, including coordinating volunteers, grant efforts, and other tasks. She follows Donald Osei-Owusu, who organized business initiatives, volunteer days, and worked with me on a bunch of grant proposals. Sheila is working through SALT, which has been instrumental in this and many other recovery projects in the area.