Community News

Click HERE  to view the first two out of three videos that address the budgetary challenges we are facing for the 2021 budget and beyond.  

I am presenting the 2021 budget as one significant step in our “Path Toward Stability”. This year the town lost 60% of its primary income. Our budget of $2.5 million is supported by nearly $1 million in diminishing savings.  No family, business or municipality can sustain such a circumstance.

We must plan to regain financial balance and institute stability. This will be done by establishing a sound budgetary base in 2021 and then through rigorous planning for the final four years of our multi-year financial recovery plan. A key to our success will be periodic measurement of our progress and adjustments along the way to ensure our success.

The Supervisor’s Tentative Budget glances back at our recent history and establishes a benchmark budget of 2015 to which we have recreated not just an identical budget total but also duplicated the tax levy of that year. we have accomplished this through a rigorous zero-based review of all expenses which has allowed us to cut the current budget while adjusting revenue recovery from potential losses due to the pandemic.

I have chosen to benchmark 2021 on the 2015 budget, because all of the intervening years, and most particularly the current one, have relied upon savings and not income. This cannot be sustained. Each of these past few years are recognized by the Comptroller and Certified Public Accountants as a budget that is “structurally unbalanced.”  Savings is not income.

The plan for 2021 also reduces our reliance upon savings from $950,000 [which happened after an election was lost], to $200,000, which I believe will be sustainable into the future.

The impact of this budget will restore taxes to nearly the precise amounts that were paid last year [2019]. Our current estimates indicate that the owner of a $200,000 property would pay $44.65 more next year and the owner of a $300,000 property $66.97, or $5.58 per month. Each additional $100,000 in property value would add $22.32 per year.

In addition, we will make the payment of taxes easier than in the past. Residents will be given the opportunity to make two payments, one at the normal winter deadline, and another in the spring.

As we move forward in our budget deliberations, I ask the Board and the community to recognize the truth about our financial condition. Some have claimed that “We have plenty of money.” We do have savings left and the real question is “How best to use it?”

My budget proposal is a conservative effort to maintain our programs, services and staff in a manner that is sound and familiar to our residents.

I look forward to answering every question, considering every recommendation, and addressing every recommendation, provided that they are presented in the good interest of Stanford and its taxpayers.

All the best

Wendy Burton

Please sign up HERE to reserve your place for the Stanford Rec’s first Community Night movie, free to all residents of Stanford, at 7:00 pm, Saturday the 19th.  The movie will follow the fabulous annual Chicken BBQ put on every Community Day by Stanford Grange #808.  Please check in with the Grange to see how many dinners are still available.

At 7:00 the Grange will present their Citizen of the Year Award which is always a heartwarming and meaningful event, and then on to the movie ONWARD and free ice cream courtesy Stewart Shops.

See you on Saturday!!!

Click HERE to see the extraordinary video footage taken by Jeff Galm of the Milan Fire District.  Bagpipes were played by Will Moriarty, Stanford Fire Company

Severe Storms Bringing Strong Winds, Heavy Rain Could Cause Electric Service Interruptions

Central Hudson Gas & Electric is advising local residents to prepare for severe thunderstorms that have the potential to bring damaging winds, hail and heavy rain to the area on Thursday afternoon and into the evening. These conditions could cause electric service interruptions.

“Preliminary forecasts suggest these storms could bring wind gusts of over 55 mph, large hail and heavy rains to the area,” said Ryan Hawthorne, Assistant Vice President of Electric Engineering and Operations at Central Hudson. “We will continue to closely monitor the weather conditions and prepare for any potential outages that could result from storm damages by readying equipment and personnel, and maintaining contact with regional utilities and local emergency responders.”

Sustained winds and strong wind gusts can cause trees and limbs to fall on power lines, causing hazardous conditions. Residents are reminded to stay at least 30 feet away from downed power lines, remembering that lines can be hidden within fallen limbs, and to assume that any downed line is live, Hawthorne said.

“With families working and schooling from home, we know how critical electrical service is to stay connected,” Hawthorne continued. “Our crews will continue to adhere to CDC and state guidelines and practice social distancing while restoring electric service as safely and efficiently as possible.”

Hawthorne recommended ways in which customers can prepare for the storm and potential electric service interruptions by:

·       Paying attention to weather advisories, storm outage updates and/or shelter information;

·       Charging electronic devices in order to connect with https://StormCentral.CenHud.com;

·       Keeping handy a flashlight and fresh batteries;

·       Having a battery-powered radio to remain informed of restoration efforts;

·       Confirming adequate packaged or canned foods that require no refrigeration or cooking, and if shopping in advance of storms limiting quantities of perishable food;

·       Avoiding opening a refrigerator unnecessarily during outages, so that food lasts longer;

·       Having a non-electric can opener;

·       Keeping an emergency supply of bottled water on hand for drinking and washing; and

·       Filling bathtubs with water as added reserves.

In addition, customers are advised to keep safety in mind, especially during service interruptions:

·       Never use outdoor gas or charcoal grills indoors, as they pose a fire hazard and over time can give off carbon monoxide gas;

·       Beware of fallen trees and limbs, and use caution or traveling;

·       Avoid the use of candles for illumination due to fire hazards;

·       Follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions on the use of emergency generators, and be sure to shut off the main breaker when in use and operate the units outdoors;

·       Operate cars and motor vehicles outdoors only, and never inside the garage; and

·       Avoid travel along roadways as hazardous conditions may cause driving accidents, including those involving utility poles which may cause power interruptions.

Customers can stay informed of storm and restoration conditions in the following ways:

·       By text messaging: Customers should enroll in Central Hudson’s Texting Program to use text messaging to report their power condition and to obtain repair status. To enroll, visit CentralHudson.com/Alerts or text REG to 236483;

·       On the Web: Visit CentralHudson.com/Storms to report outages and obtain restoration updates;

·       Via smart phones: A mobile version of the Central Hudson’s website can be accessed by web-enabled cell phones and mobile devices at https://mobile.CenHud.com. Free Central Hudson mobile applications for Android and Apple and are also available by logging onto CentralHudson.com/mobileapp;

·       Through social media: “Like” Central Hudson on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/ CentralHudson) and “Follow” on Twitter (www.Twitter.com/CentralHudson); and

·       By phone: Call the Central Hudson PowerLine at (845) 452-2700 or 1-800-527-2714, and please use the automated system to report or monitor your power condition.