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...
June 16, 2026
Author: Charles Steven (Charles Steven)
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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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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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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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First 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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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...
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Honesty vs. Uncertainty: The 2026-2027 Budget Breakdown
At the March 25th board meeting, village residents got a rare glimpse of blunt honesty regarding the state of our local finances. When questioned about the confusion and lack of consistency surrounding the upcoming 2026-2027 budget, Mayor Huber didn’t mince words. His assessment was direct and concerning: “The numbers are all screwed up, the lines...
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The Broken Promise of Franny Reese Park: A $1.4 Million Parking Lot
Many residents and local business owners share a vibrant, positive vision for our Village. Unfortunately, that vision consistently seems to wither and die the moment it reaches the point of execution. A prime example of this disconnect is the “Cobbler Shop” and the surrounding project on West Main Street. What was marketed as a transformative...
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The Village of Wappingers Falls: A Vibrant Tapestry of Culture, History, and Walkability
In an era of generic, cookie-cutter cul-de-sacs and sprawling suburban developments, the Village of Wappingers Falls stands out as a rare gem. It is a unique “urban-suburban” environment where history meets modern diversity, offering a lifestyle defined by safety, community, and an authentic sense of place. A Melting Pot of Cultures and People The heart...
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Wappingers Falls: From Historic Charm to High-Crime Aesthetic
This unique character of the Village of Wappingers Falls Historic Business District is what sets us apart from the generic Route 9 corridor and the sprawling strip malls of newer communities. The Villages’ historic character is our “brand”—it’s why people want to live here and visit here. When you look around our Main Street historic...