The Reality Check: “The Board is proposing a low tax increase to make the budget look responsible. But the numbers tell a different story. To keep taxes this low, they used $751,765 in utility money this year—a move with no historical precedent and no supporting paperwork. If they don’t do that again next year, the...
June 22, 2026
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April 22, 2026June 7, 2026Budget, Editorial, Politics, transparency
BUDGET ALERT: Transparency is Dead in Wappingers Falls
The Village Board is about to vote on a 2026-2027 budget that the public has never actually seen. At the April 7th public hearing, the Board presented a “tentative budget” that was nothing more than a copy-and-paste of last year’s numbers. They asked for your input on a placeholder document while, behind closed doors, they...
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April 21, 2026June 7, 2026Uncategorized
AUDIT OF SENIOR WATER RATE: 31% of Discounts May Be Unauthorized by the Villages Own Rules
While the legitimacy of this “unauthorized” discount is already questionable, until recent years the Village’s own historical rate schedules were clear: To be eligible for the Senior Rate, the property must be a primary residence and the owner must be a recipient of the Enhanced STAR tax exemption. I have reviewed the 2025 Final Tax Rolls for both...
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April 19, 2026June 7, 2026Editorial, Fiscal, Politics, Uncategorized, Water
Why are Village Trustees Paying Less for Water than You?
THE EXCLUSIVE “190 CLUB”: Is it a Secret Senior Discount Reserved for Village Insiders? For years, the Village of Wappingers Falls has operated a two-tier system for water billing. While the current average resident pays a base rate of $53.89, a select group of 190 users enjoys a “Senior Base Rate” of $31.21—a staggering 43%...
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April 16, 2026June 7, 2026Uncategorized
Just the Facts – Documentation supporting Statements on Proposed Police Budget
I want to assure people that my remarks about the proposed police budget come from the same documents that were provided to the Wappingers Falls Board of Trustees: The proposed budget document states that the budget proposals represent a 41.78% increase in police spending. (Budget proposal page 11) 2. The proposed budget adds...
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April 14, 2026June 7, 2026Uncategorized
Proposed Police Budget: A 42% Increase and a 10% Tax Hike?
The Village Board met with the Police Commissioner on April 13th to discuss a budget proposal that can only be described as staggering. The Commissioner is seeking to increase departmental spending by 41.78%, jumping from $1,254,687 to $1,793,132. If approved, this proposal alone would trigger a 10% property tax increase. At a time when the...
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April 11, 2026April 11, 2026Budget, Editorial, transparency
by Charles StevenFirst Village Budget Meeting: Fiscal Confusion and a Trip to Saratoga The first budget meeting, held on April 10th, was defined by confusion and an alarming lack of fiscal documentation. The disorganization of records left the board speculating about actual expenses and which budget lines were being used to pay them. Instead of relying on...
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April 1, 2026June 7, 2026Uncategorized
The $6.4 Million Copy-Paste: Why is our Budget Process Shrouded in Secrecy?
The village has not provided taxpayers with any information they need to question the board about the 26-27 budget. Yet, the board is holding a public hearing on April 8th where “any person may be heard in favor or against any item therein contained”. Routine public budget preparation documents that should be readily...