Welcome to the Village of Maybrook!

Whether you plan to be here for a short time or for the rest of your life, we hope you find the Village of Maybrook to be a friendly, caring, and supportive community where everyone is warmly welcomed. Over the years, we have developed an even deeper appreciation for our village and the strong sense of community that defines it.

What we have in Maybrook does not happen by accident. Our many positive accomplishments are the result of the continued dedication and collaboration of the Village Board, community organizations, residents, and village employees. Working together, we will continue to make Maybrook a wonderful place to live, work, and play.

The Village of Maybrook website was created to enhance communication and keep residents informed about current events and important updates. We encourage you to visit often and to “like” and follow our Village of Maybrook Facebook and Instagram pages as well.

In 2025, the Village of Maybrook proudly celebrated its 100th anniversary—marking a century of community, growth, and resilience. As we reflect on our rich history, we also look ahead with optimism and excitement. The year 2026 represents a time of rebuilding and renewal, as we prepare for the next 100 years with new initiatives and opportunities that will benefit future generations.

Sincerely,

Mayor Dennis K. Leahy

Village of Maybrook 2026–2027 Special Budget Meeting

Monday, April 27, 2026 @ 7 pm at the Maybrook Senior Center

To begin our meeting, I’d like to provide a timeline for the Village Board and the 2026–2027 budget process.

On Friday, March 20th, the Village of Maybrook submitted and posted the tentative 2026–2027 budget on the Village website. Along with the budget, I included a summary that I personally prepare each year to help residents better understand the actual impact, as percentages alone can often be misleading. To ensure full transparency, the tentative budget was placed prominently on the front page of the Village website, and hard copies were made available at the Government Center upon request.

On Monday, April 20, 2026, a Tentative Budget Public Hearing was held at the Maybrook Government Center at 7:00 PM. This hearing serves as the community’s opportunity to review the plan and provide input before anything is finalized. The Village Board listened carefully to the concerns raised by residents and agreed to revisit the tentative 2026–2027 budget to explore ways to lessen the burden on taxpayers. As a result, a Special Budget Meeting was scheduled for this evening, Monday, April 27, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Maybrook Senior Center.

Over the past week, I met with our auditors to discuss the appropriate use of fund balance. Based on their guidance, it is recommended that we not exceed $75,000 in fund balance usage. I also had several individual discussions with members of the Village Board, many of whom agreed with this recommendation. We then conducted a detailed review of the budget to identify additional opportunities for reductions.

The following are my recommendations for the Board’s consideration:

• Use of $75,000 from Fund Balance
• Contingent Account (A-05-1990-400): reduced from $81,713 to $71,713 ($10,000 reduction)
• Playground Contractual (A-05-7140-400): reduced from $65,000 to $55,000 ($10,000 reduction)
• Playground Equipment (A-05-7140-200): reduced from $10,000 to $5,000 ($5,000 reduction)
• Mayor Personal Services (A-05-1210-100): held at $22,002 (no increase; savings of $660)
• Board of Trustees Personal Services (A-05-1010-100): held at $32,711 (no increase; savings of $983 total / $245.33 per trustee)

Total Proposed Budget Reduction: $101,643

For context, surrounding tax rate increases are as follows:

• Town of Montgomery:
  2025–2026: $18.73 → 2026–2027: $21.16 (12.97% increase)
• Town of Hamptonburgh:
  2025–2026: $10.82 → 2026–2027: $12.34 (14.05% increase)

Regarding the levy:

• The tentative budget initially reflected a $400,000 increase
• The modified budget reduces that increase to $298,357
• The balance to levy decreases from $2,622,401 to $2,520,758

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Impact on Property Taxes

Montgomery Residents

• Tax Rate: $18.73 -> $21.16 ($22.00)
• $79,800 home assessment value: $1,479.65 -> 1,688.57 ( $1,755.60 with a decrease of $67.03 from TENTATIVE)
• Increase $208.92 annually ($275.95)
• $17.41 ($23.00)/month and $4.02 ($5.31)/week

• Tax Rate: $18.73 → $21.16 ($22.00)
• $125,000 home assessment value: $2,341.25 → $2,645 ($2,750.00 with a decrease of $105.00 from TENTATIVE)
• Increase $303.75 annually ($408.75)
• $25.31 ($34.06)/month | $5.84 ($7.86)/week
• Percent Increase: 12.97% (17.5% equals a 4.53% decrease from TENTATIVE)

Previous 6-year average increase: 3.3%

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Hamptonburgh Residents

• Tax Rate: $10.82 → $12.34 ($12.83)
• $125,000 home assessment value: $1,352.50 → $1,542.50 ($1,603.75 with a decrease of $61.00 from TENTATIVE)
• Increase: $190.00 annually ($251.25)
• $15.83 ($20.94/month | $3.65 ($4.83)/week
• Percent Increase: 14.06% (18.59% equals a 4.53% decrease from TENTATIVE)

Previous 6-year average increase: 1.8%

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Fund Balance

• Current Fund Balance: $784,941 will go to $709,941

Your feedback made a difference. The Village Board took a second look, made cuts, and worked to reduce the impact on taxpayers while still maintaining services. Thank you.

-Mayor Dennis K. Leahy

Village of Maybrook 2026–2027 Tentative Budget Overview Monday, April 20, 2026 at the Maybrook Government Center

As we prepare the 2026–2027 Village budget, we want to provide residents with a clear and transparent explanation of this year’s tax increase.

On Friday, March 20th, the Village of Maybrook submitted and posted the tentative 2026–2027 budget on the Village website. Along with the budget, I included a summary that I personally prepare each year to help residents better understand the actual impact, as percentages alone can often be misleading. Unfortunately, there has been misinformation circulating on social media from individuals who either misunderstand the budget process or are seeking to create confusion. While the tentative budget does reflect a significant increase, the accompanying summary clearly explains the reasons behind it. To ensure full transparency, the tentative budget was placed prominently on the front page of the Village website, and hard copies have been made available at the Government Center upon request.

Tax Levy Adjustment

To meet rising operational costs, the Village is increasing the tax levy by $400,000, from $2,222,401 to $2,622,401.

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Impact on Property Taxes

Montgomery Residents Town House –

• Tax Rate: $18.73 -> $22.00
• $79,800 home assessment value: $1,479.65 -> $1,755.60
• Increase $275.95 annually
•  $23.00/month and $5.31/week

• Tax Rate: $18.73 → $22.00
• $125,000 home assessment value: $2,341.25 → $2,750.00
• Increase: $408.75 annually
  • $34.06/month | $7.86/week
• Percent Increase: 17.5%

Previous 6-year average increase: 3.3%

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Hamptonburgh Residents

• Tax Rate: $10.82 → $12.83
• $125,000 home: $1,352.50 → $1,603.75
• Increase: $251.25 annually
  • $20.94/month | $4.83/week
• Percent Increase: 18.59%

Previous 6-year average increase: 1.8%

Key Drivers of Increased Costs

The Village is facing approximately $345,000 in increased expenses, primarily due to inflation, contractual obligations, and rising benefit and utility costs.

Major increases include:

• Liability Insurance: $20,000
• Police Department Operations: $167,000
• Police Labor Attorney: $12,000
• Police Chief Adjustment: $10,000
• State Retirement: $10,000
• Police Retirement: $50,000
• Social Security: $10,000
• Health Insurance: $60,000
• Utilities (Central Hudson): $6,000/month increase

Police Department increases reflect:

• Expanded weekend coverage to ensure consistent police presence during peak activity times
• A Senior Community Liaison, strengthening outreach, support, and quality of life for our senior residents
• Additional supervisory coverage on both day and night shifts to enhance oversight, accountability, and response coordination
• Fulfillment of contractual salary obligations to retain and support experienced officers
• Overtime for timely arrest processing and maintaining efficient operations
• Investment in updated IT systems to improve reporting, communication, and overall efficiency
• Increased capacity for criminal and drug investigations to proactively protect the community
• Enhanced staffing for weather-related emergencies (9 storm events in 2026) to ensure public safety during severe conditions
• Continued support for community events and holiday coverage, reinforcing strong relationships between the Police Department and residents.

Financial Responsibility

• No General Fund Balance used for 8 consecutive budgets
• Current Fund Balance: $784,941
• No fiscal stress designation

Looking Ahead

Positive developments expected to strengthen future revenues:

• Galaxy Business Park construction (Spring 2026)
• Approximately 180 new homes proposed
• Church of the Assumption property returning to tax rolls
• Updated village fee schedule to reflect current costs.

Police Overtime

Police overtime (OT) occurs in more ways than many people realize. The assumption that overtime is primarily driven by “crime fighting” is inaccurate—in reality, that represents only a small portion of total overtime usage.

The majority of overtime is generated by shift coverage requirements. To maintain minimum staffing levels—currently 1–2 officers on duty at any given time in Maybrook—vacancies must be filled whenever they arise. These vacancies are a direct result of standard contractual benefits afforded to full-time officers, including personal days, vacation time, compensatory time, and sick leave.

Part-time officers are often viewed as a simple solution to reduce overtime; however, that is not the case. They are typically pre-scheduled and may not be available to fill unexpected vacancies. Additionally, part-time officers can also earn overtime under certain contractual conditions.

Fund Balance

The Village’s current Fund Balance stands at $784,941. According to guidance from the New York State Comptroller’s Office, a healthy Fund Balance is approximately 25% of the General Fund.

Based on a projected General Fund of $2,622,401, the recommended 25% threshold is $655,600, leaving an available balance of $129,341 above that benchmark.

However, the Village is currently operating at a deficit this year, driven primarily by inflation. Given these conditions, it would not be fiscally responsible to apply Fund Balance toward reducing taxes at this time—particularly while the Village Board continues addressing long-neglected infrastructure needs.

Using Fund Balance in this manner would effectively shift financial burdens into the future rather than solving them. Instead, the Board’s priority is to strengthen the Village’s financial position by maintaining and growing the Fund Balance through responsible budgeting, while also establishing Capital Reserves to fund necessary projects.

For many years, I have emphasized that the Village does not have sufficient rateables to offset the tax levy, and as a result, the tax burden has largely fallen on residents. While this remains a challenge, we have made meaningful progress by staying the course on long-term economic development initiatives, including the Galaxy Business Park.

The Galaxy Business Park is moving forward, and this progress reflects that we are heading in the right direction in rebuilding our Village’s financial stability and economic base.

Police Consolidation

In 2020, then–Town of Montgomery Supervisor Brian Maher authorized a comprehensive study to evaluate police services and identify opportunities for improved cost efficiency. The study, completed in 2022, included findings (pages 41–43) recommending that the Town of Montgomery Police Department be reduced to part-time status or potentially dissolved altogether as a means of saving taxpayer dollars.

This recommendation was based on the presence of three separate village police departments already serving the area, highlighting the importance of efficiency and avoiding duplication of services.

For context, the current police budgets are as follows:

• Town of Montgomery: $3,606,965
• Village of Walden: $2,207,175
• Village of Montgomery: $1,601,238
• Village of Maybrook: $760,500

Notably, the Village of Maybrook Police Department operates at a significantly lower cost compared to surrounding jurisdictions, while still maintaining the necessary level of service and public safety coverage for our residents. This reflects a disciplined and efficient approach to staffing, budgeting, and resource management.

Despite limited resources, the department continues to meet required coverage levels, manage overtime responsibly, and provide consistent service to the community. This demonstrates that Maybrook is already operating in a lean and fiscally responsible manner, maximizing taxpayer dollars while maintaining public safety.

Pay Raises

Most workers across the country are seeing pay raises of about 3% to 3.5% in 2026. Maybrook’s proposed 3% increase is right in that range and helps employees keep up with higher everyday expenses.

Comparing the Village of Maybrook to the Village of Montgomery

The Village of Maybrook’s core operating budget—the General Fund—will be $2,622,401 for 2026–2027. This covers essential services such as police, DPW, and administration. For a village of just over 3,000 residents, this budget is on the moderate-to-lower end.

Comparing Maybrook to the Village of Montgomery is not always straightforward—they are fundamentally different communities. While Maybrook has a higher tax rate paired with lower property values, Montgomery has a slightly lower tax rate supported by higher property values. The difference ultimately comes down to a few key factors:

• The size of the taxable property base
• The presence of industrial and commercial properties
• Reassessment levels
• Housing density and overall property values

Communities with stronger commercial and industrial sectors benefit from a broader tax base, which helps reduce the burden on homeowners. That is where Montgomery has an advantage. It is slightly larger and more economically diversified, with more storefronts, mixed-use development, and higher assessed home values. In simple terms, Montgomery has more taxable value per resident and can spread costs across a wider base.

Maybrook, by contrast, operates leaner and with more financial constraints. The issue here is not primarily spending—it is the depth of the tax base. Without a strong commercial presence, the village has historically relied more heavily on residential taxpayers.

Historical Context and Long-Term Planning

To understand where we are today, it’s important to look at where we’ve been.

In 1974, the Maybrook Rail Yard closed, impacting over 200 local families and marking the beginning of a long economic decline. Over time, infrastructure deteriorated, Main Street disappeared, and there was no clear long-term plan for revitalization.

When I became Mayor in 2008, we had to start at ground zero. The focus was on rebuilding the village’s foundation:

• Constructing a new government center
• Improving and investing in our parks
• Building a Senior Center
• Modernizing and realigning sewer infrastructure

A major milestone was the construction of a new sewer treatment plant, completed in 2015. The project cost $5.3 million—under budget—and secured at an interest rate of just 0.7%, which would be nearly impossible today. That same facility would cost approximately $30 million to build in 2026.

All of this work took place during one of the most difficult economic periods in recent history, from 2009 to 2014, when resources were limited and the village even lost its elementary school. Despite these challenges, the goal remained clear: invest in infrastructure to position Maybrook for future growth.

The Vision: Galaxy Business Park

From the beginning, the long-term plan has been to strengthen Maybrook’s tax base by attracting economic development. That vision is now becoming reality through the Galaxy Business Park.

In support of this effort, we also established a Traditional Downtown District (TDD) to guide Main Street revitalization and invested in key properties to support future development, including municipal parking.

The Galaxy Business Park represents a transformational opportunity. The project includes:

• Over 1,000,000 square feet of potential building space
• Rail service access
• A new roadway connection from Main Street to Henry Henning Road in the Town of Montgomery

This type of development brings the “ratables” Maybrook has long needed—expanding the tax base and helping to reduce the burden on homeowners.

In December 2026, the Village of Maybrook was awarded $25 million through New York State’s FAST NY program—one of the largest awards in the state and a significant achievement for a village of our size. This investment supports the development of a rail-served advanced manufacturing site designed to attract businesses and create jobs.

Looking Ahead

This project has been more than 16 years in the making. While progress may have seemed slow at times, meaningful and sustainable development takes time. The foundation we built—especially our infrastructure—has positioned Maybrook to take advantage of opportunities like this.

For decades, little was done to move the village forward. Since 2008, that has changed. Every project, from the Maybrook Government Center to the Maybrook Senior Center to the sewer system and infrastructure improvements, has been part of a larger strategy to rebuild and revitalize our community.

Today, Maybrook is on the rise. We have modern infrastructure, a clear vision for the future, and a major economic development project underway. The work has been long, but the results are beginning to show—and the best is still ahead.

Closing

We understand this increase is significant, especially during a time of rising costs for many households. As residents and taxpayers ourselves, we share these concerns.

However, this adjustment is necessary to maintain essential services, meet rising expenses, and continue moving the Village forward in a responsible and sustainable way.

The Village of Maybrook Board of Trustees authorized table the budget and have a special meeting on Monday, April 27, 2026 at the Maybrook Senior Center at 7 pm.

On behalf of the Village Board of Trustees, we would like to thank everyone who came out this evening to share their concerns. Your input is important and appreciated, and we value the opportunity to hear directly from our residents. We also hope you will continue to attend future Village Board meetings.

Mayor Dennis K. Leahy

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