Warwick approves 2013 budget

WARWICK — The Warwick Town Board unanimously approved 2013 special district and town budgets for 2013 on Nov. 15.

The town will raise its tax levy by 1.63 percent.

Special district budgets like water and sewer only affect those who reside within that district whereas the town budget affects all residents.

Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton worked with department heads and the Civil Service Employees Association Local 836 to come in under the state’s 2 percent tax levy cap.

The board kept the same salaries for elected officials as last year, which also went unchanged from the prior year.

Total spending for 2013 will be $15,893,416, which is less than 2008 when it totaled $16,041,132.

Next year the average non-village resident homeowner can expect an increase of $4.43 per $1,000 assessed value while the average village resident will see an increase of $11.66 per $1,000 assessed value.

The majority of the tax levy increase will pay for employee fringe and pension benefits that continue to increase although the town has reduced its payroll.

In other news:

In honor of Adam Weslowski’s 100th birthday, the board voted unanimously to proclaim the week of Dec. 24 Adam Weslowski Week in the Town of Warwick.

The federal government has declared Orange County a disaster area from Hurricane Sandy. Home and business owners with damage may contact FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA or TTY 1-800-462-7585, online at www.disasterassistance.gov or at m.fema.gov on a tablet or smartphone.

Union Corners Park is open for residents to drop off wood debris from Hurricane Sandy. Residents may leave wood debris near the pile in the parking lot on the sports field side of the park only.

November is adopt a homeless senior pet month at the Warwick Valley Humane Society. Due to overcrowding, the shelter remains in urgent need of heavy-duty garbage bags, bleach, simple green, natural wood stove pellets for litter, and canned ground cat food. Upcoming fund-raising events for the animal shelter include pet photos with Santa on Dec. 1 and 2 from noon until 3 p.m. at a cost of $10 for 1 photo, $18 for 2 and $25 for 3. No appointments necessary and children and dress-up welcome. The next rabies clinic is Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. until noon for both dogs and cats at a cost of $15 each, cash only.

The next regular meeting of the town board will be held on Thursday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in Warwick Town Hall, 132 Kings Highway.



By Birgit Bogler