The Village Board is about to pull a fast one on your wallet, and they’re hoping you won’t notice. The Fake Budget Scheme By law, the Board must adopt a budget by May 1st. To date, the only “tentative budget” they have shown the public is a sham—a literal copy-and-paste of last year’s numbers. It...
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...
On March 24, 2026, the Village of Wappingers Falls published a public notice for a hearing on April 29th. The topic? A Local Law to override the State-mandated Tax Levy Limit. In plain English: The Village Board is preparing to raise your taxes beyond the legal “cap.” I have previously warned that we could be...
The Truth About “Ballot Assistance” Have you felt pressured to hand over your ballot to anyone asking to be your “authorized agent”? Your private vote should never be treated as someone else’s political tool. When candidates or their proxies “help” you vote, their primary goal may not be your convenience—it’s taking control of your voice...
A political party line is supposed to represent a specific set of values. In our village, however, the party system has devolved into a political masquerade. Our annual caucuses have become a playground for a small group of insiders to maintain the status quo and limit competition, regardless of political affiliation. The evidence is hiding...
Time for Fresh Perspectives in Our VillageThe March 18th village elections are shaping up to be less of a democratic contest and more of a game of musical chairs, with three past board members looking to return. The “Echo” in the Third WardIn the Third Ward, we’re seeing a return to the past rather than...
Negotiations: Putting the Cart Before the Horse In New York, the engineering study and the Environmental Assessment (SEQRA) are supposed to happen before the board starts negotiating a 30-year lease for a cell tower on public land. Doing it in reverse—negotiating the deal first and ‘checking the box’ later—diminishes the concerns of residents and can...
As residents and taxpayers of Wappingers Falls, we deserve to know how our money is being spent. Unfortunately, a critical piece of that puzzle—the Annual Financial Report (AFR)—is missing. The last AFR available for fiscal year 2022. WHAT IS AN AFR AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? The Annual Financial Report (AFR) is a comprehensive report...