2024 Yorktown Budget Hikes Garbage Taxes by 10%

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 30, 2023

2024 Yorktown Budget Hikes Garbage Taxes by 10%

The Town of Yorktown’s tentative budget proposes a garbage tax increase from roughly $5.8 million in 2023 to $6.4 million in 2024: A 10% increase to garbage tax. An additional 5% increase is also being bought off with fund balance (page 90 of the pdf, page 80 of the document) - but that cost could fall on Yorktown’s residents in future years.

The budget also identifies that garbage costs will nearly double from 2023 to 2024, rising from $2.2 million in 2023 to $4.2 million in 2024. (page 92 of the pdf, page 82 of the document)

Residents can find the 2024 Tentative Budget here: https://www.yorktownny.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/comptroller/page/44062/2024_tentative_budget.pdf

This comes after Tom Diana and the Yorktown Town Board entered into a new emergency contract - following the 9 month collapse of their previously approved contract with Competitive Carting. The Board’s first choice for the contract, Competitive Carting, missed over 40,000 garbage pickups over 9 months, and financially collapsed resulting in the repossession of its garbage trucks, all before the Board terminated the contract to find a new vendor.

The ‘A New Day for Yorktown’ slate, composed of of Jann Mirchandani (running for Town Supervisor), Diana Quast (running for re-election as Yorktown Town Clerk), Steve Shaw and Tom Marron (running for Town Council) are challenging Tom Diana and the Town Board in next week’s election. The ‘A New Day’ slate have highlighted these issues and are calling attention to the Board’s fiscal management of Yorktown.

Jann Mirchandani said: “This year’s budget shows exactly where this Board’s priorities lie: Their political bottom line. Garbage taxes are up and this new contract is double what we’re spending this year - if you look at the numbers the Board is putting forward! Yorktown needs financially responsible management, not politicians who pave over their mistakes with taxpayer dollars.”

Tom Marron said: “Over and over again, this Town Board has said one thing and done another. They said they solved the garbage problem - that we are saving money! That’s not what their budget says. Their budget says garbage taxes are up 10%, with another 5% coming down the pipe. Their budget says this new contract is almost double what we spent in 2023. Yorktown needs new leadership and we’re working to secure that for the people that live here.”

Steve Shaw said: “I’m starting to feel like a broken record here. We’re paying down a garbage tax increase - but the Board hasn’t even completed its audit of our balances. They don’t even know how much fund balance we have! Yorktown needs transparent, responsible government that keeps costs down - and that’s not what we’re seeing in this budget.”

The ‘A New Day for Yorktown Slate’ is doubling down on their dedication to Yorktown as this year’s election continues to unfold: Early voting began Saturday, October 28th and will run through Sunday, November 5th. Election day is Tuesday, November 7th.

Watch the recent debate between A New Day for Yorktown and the Town Board incumbents here: https://anewdayforyorktown.com/yorktown/