Tentative North East budget could bring 1.16% tax bump

Tentative North East budget could bring 1.16% tax bump

North East Town Hall on Rudd Pond Road in the village of Millerton.

Archive photo

MILLERTON — The Town of North East expects tax increases with the new draft of its preliminary budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

One of the most significant cost increases on the draft is for Emergency Medical Services with the provider Northern Dutchess Paramedics (NDP).

The town spent $376,858 on EMS during 2024 under its five-year contract with NDP, alongside the towns of Dover and Amenia. Now, NDP has pitched a new contract that could cost the Town of North East $646,300, a 71% increase.

“As currently budgeted, Town residents outside of the Village of Millerton would see an increase in their tax rate of 1.16%,” Chris Kennan said. “However, that does not take into account the amount by which all properties outside of the Village have had their underlying assessments increased, which in 2024 was by 3%.”

Other areas of increase include the Fire District’s means, which have risen from $756,222 in 2024 to a tentative budget of $771,366, a 2% increase. The Water District also has a 2.7% increase, which only adds $1,010 to its costs. On the other hand, the Highway Department budget was lowered by 15.2%, going from $1,775,706 in 2024 to $1,504,963 for the draft of 2025, saving the town about $270,000.

“These numbers are different for residents of the Village, who pay taxes on a combination of the Town Budget and the Village budget,” Kennan said.

The town is looking for ways to decrease these large price changes on its budget, especially with EMS provider NDP. Kennan has an upcoming meeting to discuss logistics, and the hope is to bring new information to a public hearing on Nov. 14.

“We will still see some further changes in the budget,” Kennan said. “After negotiations with NDP are complete, hopefully by the time of our next Town Board meeting on Nov. 14.”

Latest News

Village will not pursue local ICE law; police say they will cooperate with federal agencies

Village of Millerton and Town of North East residents crowded into the NorthEast-Millerton Library annex to have their voices heard on police policies regarding immigration enforcement for the Tuesday, July 29, Village Trustees meeting.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

MILLERTON — After a packed public meeting brought immigration enforcement to the forefront of village politics on Tuesday, July 29, trustees signaled they will not pursue a proposed local law aimed at limiting police cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Local police, for their part, said they would fully cooperate with federal agencies — including ICE — tempering hopes for the kind of change some residents had called for.

Keep ReadingShow less
Deputies respond to downtown Amenia political dispute

Kimberly Travis, right, during the early days of her daily "No kings" anti-Trump administration protests at downtown Amenia's Fountain Square in front of the Bank of Millbrook on Saturday, July 5. Travis has become a regular fixture on downtown Amenia after weeks of the daily protests.

Photo by Leila Hawken

AMENIA — Dutchess County Sheriff’s Deputies broke up a political dispute between two Amenia residents at Fountain Square in downtown Amenia on Tuesday, July 15.

Kimberly Travis of Amenia was conducting her daily “No Kings” anti-Trump administration protest at Fountain Square at 1:15 p.m. when Jamie Deines of Amenia, a candidate for Town Board in the Nov. 4 election, approached her.

Keep ReadingShow less
East Twin Lake
finds new hope 
as hydrilla fades

Gregory Bugbee, associate scientist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), where he heads the Office of Aquatic Invasive Species (OAIS), was a guest speaker at the Aug. 2 annual meeting of the Twin Lakes Association.

Debra A. Aleksinas

SALISBURY— A fierce and costly battle to halt the spread of hydrilla in East Twin Lake may have finally paid off.

All but three remaining small patches, one near the shoreline at O’Hara’s Landing Marina and two others in deeper water as boats exit the marina and head out, have been destroyed by this summer’s treatment with the aquatic herbicide fluridone, which began on May 20. None of the remaining plants are thriving.

Keep ReadingShow less
Oblong Books to celebrate 50 years with block party bash

Dick Hermans in the Oblong Bookstore on Millerton's Main Street in 1985.

Photo provided

MILLERTON — To celebrate its golden milestone, Oblong Books is throwing a “good old-fashioned block party” this Saturday, Aug. 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on South Center Street in Millerton. The free, family-friendly event will feature live music, food trucks, raffles and entertainment for all ages.

While the festivities mark 50 years since the founding of Oblong Books, co-owner Suzanna Hermans sees the party as something more. “We want to celebrate our friends, neighbors and generations of customers who have kept us here for 50 years,” she said. “It’s a thank-you to the people of Millerton, in particular, without whom we’d never be here.”

Keep ReadingShow less