Piermont Adopts $4.97 Million Budget, Looks Ahead to Future Projects

Piermont trustees adopted the village's $4,976,693 Tuesday night, a fiscal plan than originally came in at over $5 million but was trimmed down over past months.

"The budget calls for an increase of 2.39 percent since last fiscal year," said Christopher Sanders, Piermont's mayor. The property tax liability—which dictates the village raise about $4.2 million through property taxes—is up 2.12 percent since last year, Sanders added.

(For a look at Piermont tax hikes over the past decade, click .)

The bulk of the budget's expenditures come in the form of police and employee costs. The total for maintaining and improving the police department comes in at about $1.3 million, a 7.6 percent increase since last year. This includes $84,740 in overtime and $88,246 in employees benefits, and smaller price tags like $1,500 for ammunition.

In terms of employee benefits, retirement costs topped off at $392,289, a 17 percent increase from last year. Social security comes in at $6,650, and workers' compensation is $83,000.

The village has also hired two employees to fill vacancies: a deputy village clerk, who earns $40,000 annually, and another full-time police officer, who earns $50,000 annually.

The village's major slashes were primarily housed in the clerk/treasurer department. Piermont will spend considerably less money on computers, printing and travel expenses, saving a total of about $14,000.

After the budget vote, trustees released a list of possible future projects the village aims to tackle in coming years, ranging from upgraded police vehicles to paving and drainage work on local roads.

"This is a guide, and a good thing to have in front of us," explained trustee Steve Silverberg.

The tentative future projects fall into seven categories: buildings, police, fire, street maintenance, DPW equipment, parks and other. The priciest ambition is a $1,725,000 overhaul of village hall, which would renovate the clerks office and better utilize the third floor. (Read more about possible village hall renovations .)

Other goals include a new drainage system on Tweed Boulevard that could cost $269,000 and a $20,000 restoration of Erie Path that could be partially subsidized through grants.

 "I think we should move forward with as many of these issues as we can," noted trustee Audie Moran. Sanders agreed.

"These issues and projects don’t necessarily go away if we table them," he added.

Correction: This story previous stated the village had hired two new employees; theses employees are filling vacancies, not new positions. The language has been changed to clarify.