Sea Cliff residents can expect an average property tax increase of approximately $70 over last year after the village's board of trustees unanimously passed its $7.6 million budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
Mayor Elena Villafane said that she was "pleased" with how the final budget was shaped during the budget presentation at the April 8 board meeting in Sea Cliff Village Hall. Village officials argued that this year's budget maximized its residents' tax dollars while minimizing unnecessary expenditures.
The $483,932 increase in the upcoming budget is a 6.7 percent increase compared to last year's $7.1 million budget. "The budget is more than numbers," Villafane read from the presentation. "It is a roadmap to a stronger, more sustainable Sea Cliff."
The presentation began with several goals that the board set while engaging in the budgetary process, involving several board meetings since March, and engagement with numerous stakeholders.
The first goal was to support municipal services and sustain central operations such as protection, emergency response, and service for Sea Cliff residents. Another goal identified by the board was to enhance the quality of life through investments in parks, recreation, and public services to foster a vibrant and healthy community.
To meet that goal, this year’s budget contains a 6.3 percent increase in public safety funding due to higher investments in the fire department, safety inspections, ongoing training, and code enforcement.
The village's financial health was another priority listed in the presentation. The maintenance of "robust" reserves was presented as a commitment by the village toward long-term fiscal stability and resilience.
The final goal identified in the presentation was maximizing cost efficiency. Villafane said the board's mission was "strategic spending while minimizing costs and protecting taxpayer dollars."
Villafane highlighted several positive and negative factors that impacted this year's budgetary process. According to Villafane, the continued growth of the workforce and anticipated growth in next year's GDP assisted the budget.
She added that an excess 20 percent increase in insurance premiums and pension contributions, stock market fluctuation, supply chain disruptions, and higher costs due to inflation challenged the board during the process.
As detailed in the presentation, public safety and public works, general government, and project funding are set to receive increases in this year's budget.
The $1 million allocated represents a $60,000 increase compared to the $945,257 from the previous year. Street and park maintenance, snow removal plans, and drainage systems were just a few of the priorities that made up roughly 7.3 percent of the bump in the public works budget, according to Villafane. The $2.4 million is $167,152 more than last year's budget.
The rising costs of removing municipal solid waste, equipment maintenance and ongoing sidewalk and roadway improvements were identified in the presentation as a driving factor for the increase in public works funding.
This year's budget allocates $229,999 to capital projects along with beach maintenance, youth programs and others is a roughly $25,700 increase compared to last year. Villafane confirmed that the village is actively pursuing grant opportunities, but she added that it's essential to budget for the required local matching funds.
Capital projects are a significant long-term investment that involves designing a long-lasting asset. Funding can come from various sources, including government budgets, corporate investments, grants, loans, and public-private partnerships.
General government funds will increase by $2.6 million, roughly 6 percent, the mayor said.
The $149,000 increase from last year's general government budget will go towards community development, the library and museum, all village-appointed boards, and building maintenance. Hospital and medical insurance prices and New York State retirement system costs were identified during the presentation as the primary drivers of this increase.
Based on recorded home sales in 2024, the average price of a house sold in Sea Cliff was $1,123,225. The total assessed value of all homestead properties, a one-to-three family residential home, is estimated to be $1.656 billion, an increase of .02 percent over the 2024-2025 tax year, Villafane said.
In addition, the mayor said that roughly $6.4 million of the budget's revenue will come from tax dollars, an increase from $6.2 million the year prior.
However, Villafane added that many neighboring municipalities have broken the cap in their budgeting; the Sea Cliff budget does not pierce the cap. The tax cap law establishes a limit on the annual growth of property taxes levied by local governments and school districts to two percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.
Around 15 percent of residents' tax dollars go towards the village as explained in the presentation. To help limit the tax burden on residents, the board proposed appropriating $290,000 from the fund balance to support this year's budget.
The village anticipates $28,678 in PILOTs–payments in lieu of taxes–an approximate $500 increase from the previous budget. The board unanimously adopted the budget, and village officials praised it after its passage.
"Passing this year’s budget was no easy task,” said Village Administrator Bruce Kennedy. “We worked hard to stretch every dollar and stay within the tax cap. I’m continually impressed by the time and dedication Mayor Villafane puts into this process.” Kennedy also praised Villafane for her focus and “attention to detail and tireless commitment to doing what’s best for the Village."
The next meeting of the board is May 5.
