Mayor’s Message April 2023
The Thompson House at Northern Dutchess Hospital here in the Village has provided both rehabilitative and residential care for many people over the years. As many of you have heard, Nuvance Health is closing the facility. Spokespeople for Northern Dutchess say that following the pandemic, many hospitals have faced financial stresses, exacerbated by staffing challenges, in part because of the high costs of local housing.
Literally the same day, Astor Services announced they will no longer be providing residential treatment at their Rhinebeck facility. They will, however, continue to serve children in their daily treatment program. Astor Services, along with other programs across the country, plans to move towards more community-based programming and educational services for children with behavioral health challenges.
These are major changes to long-term service organizations in our community. Nuvance Health is planning to move qualified employees to positions within Northern Dutchess Hospital and Vassar Brothers Medical Center. They will also be finding new homes for the remaining long-term residents of the facility. Astor is coordinating new placements for children who need them, and if those are found, will close the residential program at the end of June.
The challenges created by the COVID19 pandemic continue to change our communities, and changes like these are in great part a result of that. NDH and Astor will both continue to serve this community in years to come.
The A. J. Stickle Store has been part of our community for many years. I am sure that every one of us has gone in there looking for that “perfect something” over the years. The family has recently announced they will be closing the store. We are very sorry to see them go, they will be missed.
The 2023-24 tentative budget had been completed and released to the public. A public hearing will be held on April 11th at Village Hall, starting at 6PM. In the tentative budget the proposed property tax rate falls from $3.10 to $2.77 per 1000 assessed value and the overall assessed value for the village increased by $84.5 mil.
In the General Fund, expenses have again increased for general liability and Health along with the increased cost of utilities.
Project funding in the budget includes:
-The change to 25 MPH speed limit throughout village, adding a Public use Porta-potty, continued funding to update 1993 Comprehensive Plan, Asher Dam- Inspection & Repair, Police vehicle, replacing Highway trucks, purchase for new Wheel Loader, construction of the proposed compost facility and energy improvements to Village Hall.
-Revenue from interest has been increased due to the increase in the interest rate forecast.
Water will have no rate increase.. This budget includes increases to utilities, insurances, a new vehicle and turbidity meters. A Water Plant Upgrade is underway funded by a grant from NYSEFC and low interest bonds.
The Wastewater will also not have a rate increase. This budget removes an anticipated additional employee and increases utilities, to insurances, a new influent pump and Equipment.
All funds have balanced their budgets without allocating Fund Balance.
A public hearing will be held on April 11th at 6:30 on the signed legislation that permits any local government to provide a real property tax exemption to volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers who have served a minimum of two years. New statewide exemption for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers. The law took effect in December when passed by the Governor and can be implemented by our local governing bodies. In reviewing the Fire Department roster, approximately 19 people are volunteers who live in the Village.
Specifically, Real Property Tax Law § 466-a allows for an exemption of up to 10% of the assessed valuation of the primary residence of volunteer firefighters and/or volunteer ambulance workers. In order to authorize such an exemption, a municipality must opt-in via the adoption of a local law.
Once a local government opts in, an application for the exemption by the volunteer firefighter or volunteer ambulance worker must be filed with the local assessor before the applicable “taxable status date.” The exemption applies only to the tax levy of the unit of local government that opts in. There are some other requirements for those who apply for the exemption. You can find them here: Law of New York, 2022 Chapter 670
A new web page has been added to the Village of Rhinebeck website, which will provide up to date information on the development project at 6 Mulberry Street, the former Bulkeley School in the Village. The site will be updated with any new information as it is filed with the Village Clerk.You can find it at: 6 Mulberry — Village of Rhinebeck This is an ongoing process, so please check back.
Please welcome Dave Leary, who has transferred from Hillside Fire Department, to the Village of Rhinebeck Fire Department. And, if you would like to see the new ambulance, as well as all the firefighting equipment used by the Village Fire Department, join us on May 7th at 11AM. Firefighters will be hosting an open house event and wetdown celebration for Rescue 59-55 and Ambulance 59-71. Food trucks, raffles, demonstrations, kids activities, and much more. A wetdown is a time-honored tradition among fire stations when they wash the equipment after a call to ready it for the next call. Bring the kids for sure!
As always, please reach out to me with any questions or comments. You can reach me by phone 845-876-7015 ext 2 at Village Hall or via email to MayorBassett@Villgeofrhinebeckny.gov
Gary Bassett
Mayor Village of Rhinebeck