Yorktown Town Board Proposes Budget Without Audit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 31, 2023

Yorktown Town Board Proposes Budget Without Audit

Yorktown’s Town Board has proposed a $69 million tentative budget - but the Town has not completed an audit of its finances. This means that the Board is spending fund balance - the Town’s reserves - without certainty as to how much they have to spend.

The Board previously proposed it would spend $1.25 million in fund balance in 2023, and now proposes to spend $1.52 million in fund balance in 2024 - a 20% increase in spending (page 15 of the pdf, page 5 of the document).

But this comes on the heels of a fivefold increase in the Board’s use of fund balance. Although the Board said it would spend $1.25 million in fund balance through 2023, the Board actually spent over $5.7 million in fund balance through 2023 (page 43 of the pdf, page 33 of the document).

Whether the Town Board keeps to its proposed 20% increase or goes over again is up in the air after a year defined by last minute crisis, cost overruns, and a collapsing contract.

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

Residents can find the Town’s previous audit reports here: https://www.yorktownny.org/comptroller/audit-reports

The ‘A New Day for Yorktown’ slate, composed 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 called repeatedly for financial transparency and responsibility, highlighting the concerns of Yorktown’s residents through their assertive 6 month campaign.

Jann Mirchandani said: “I’ve managed my own small business for 25 years, and I’ve served as a member of regional executive boards for 35 years. Tom Diana and the Town Board claim this budget is balanced. But they haven’t checked the balance of their accounts - which raises some serious questions. Yorktown needs leadership that is straightforward with taxpayers about the state of our finances - and doesn’t duck behind incomplete documents.”

Tom Marron said: “Yorktown is in a complicated space. We are dealing with serious problems with our infrastructure: We’ve had 10 water main breaks this year - five in October alone. We’re dealing with serious flooding and cost overruns on our sewer project and the fluoridation project. Right now, we need to be budgeting intentionally and responsibly - we can’t be taking shots in the dark. Budgeting without an audit isn’t just irresponsible: It’s dangerous.”

Steve Shaw said: “I’ve spent more than a decade of my career at the largest legal services company in the world. One of the many things I’ve learned is that you have to look before you leap. This budget is a dangerous jump to an uncertain conclusion with taxpayer dollars on the line. We can’t afford to be so cavalier when costs are going up for the people that live here.”

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/

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