Stony Point readies 2018 budget, public hearing set

BY KATHY KAHN 

Stony Point is preparing for a public hearing on the preliminary budget for the town for the New Year.

“The state’s tax cap rate has gone down from 2 percent to 1.07 percent,” said Supervisor Jim Monaghan. “When the tax cap was first introduced, towns that did not exceed it were given an incentive, but that incentive has expired.”

The board passed the tax cap override, just as it did last year as a precaution, but Monaghan said the tentative budget of $17.3 million means a zero tax increase for homeowners and brings the commercial tax rate down -5.25 percent. “We were able to do that because of the reassessment of the Algonquin Gas Pipeline.”

The pipeline nearly doubled in size—from 24 to 42 inches—and Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC made several major upgrades to its plant to accommodate the expanded gas line. “That’s helped us keep the tax rates low,” said Monaghan.

Hi-Tor Animal Shelter will be getting a $16,000 increase from all Rockland towns, including Stony Point. The only shelter in the county, its new management said they are seeking to build a new shelter to upgrade its services to the Rockland community. It formerly received $7,350 from Stony Point.

The preliminary budget will be presented to the town on October 24, 7 pm at the RHO building.

  Algonquin Gas Pipeline, jim monaghan, Stony Point