Village Authorizes Matching Funds for Three Stormwater Remediation Projects
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George Field ParkAfter years of discussion, the Village of Scarsdale is moving forward with three long awaited stormwater remediation projects, using a 50% fund matching program from Westchester County.
In order to qualify for the matching funds, the Village was required to make a commitment to fund 50% of the proposed work. With a June 19 county deadline approaching, the Scarsdale Village Board unanimously approved resolutions to authorize the issuance of bonds to underwrite the Village share of the expenses.
The three projects are as follows:
-Authorization for the issuance of $3,669,640 in bonds for the Village’s share of the cost of stormwater and drainage improvements around Cushman Road, Garden Road, Willow Lane and Sheldrake Road, including installation of new surface inlets, upsizing of storm sewer pipes and replacement of piping, and any incidental expenses. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $7,339,280.
-Authorization for the issuance of $4,236,680 in bonds for the Village’s share of the cost of stormwater and drainage improvements around George Field Park, Rugby Lane and Cambridge Road, including improvements to piping and bio-retention pond and regrading, and any incidental expenses. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $8,473,360.
-Authorization for the issuance of $373,750 in bonds for the Village’s share of stormwater and drainage improvements around Griffen Avenue including construction of a culvert system, removal of pipes, widening and stabilization of stream bank, and removal of debris and sediment within the system, and any incidental expenses. The total cost of the work is estimated to be $747,500.
Another proposed project on Brite Avenue and Chesterfiled Road near the tennis courts, estimated to cost $3,380,000 was not included.
Several residents from the affected areas wrote letters and came to Village Hall to speak about the projects after the Mayor raised the question of funding stormwater improvements by creating special tax districts to assess affected residents for the cost of the work at a work session on May 28, 2026.
Subsequently, further details about special tax districts were provided in two memos issued by the Village on June 5.
A memo titled, “Village Considering Funding Options for Stormwater Hazard Mitigation Improvements” says: “The Village has previously identified potential local funding sources for these projects, including assigned fund balance and future debt financing. During its May 28 work session, the Village Board discussed project funding strategies, broader stormwater management considerations, and various financing tools available to municipalities under New York State law, including special tax districts. No action was taken or decision reached regarding any specific funding mechanism.”
Another titled, “Understanding Special Tax Districts and Infrastructure Funding” said the following:
"Infrastructure projects can vary significantly in both cost and the scope of benefits they provide. Some projects provide benefits that are shared broadly throughout the community, while others may provide more direct benefits to particular areas or groups of properties……Local governments may consider funding tools such as grants, reserve funds, debt financing, general Village revenues, and other mechanisms authorized under New York State law.
One such tool is a special tax district, which allows certain public improvements or services to be funded, in whole or in part, by properties that receive a particular benefit from them. Special districts are commonly used throughout New York for infrastructure and services such as sewer systems, drainage improvements, water systems, and lighting districts.” … The Board discussed a variety of funding options as part of its deliberations on how best to finance these significant and costly projects…. These discussions were conceptual in nature, intended to explore potential approaches and better understand the implications of various funding mechanisms. No decisions were made, no actions were taken, and no consensus was reached regarding how to proceed…. The discussion of special tax districts does not mean that properties within a particular neighborhood would necessarily be responsible for the full cost of a project. Under New York law, special districts can be structured in different ways depending on the nature of the improvement, the public benefits provided, and the applicable legal requirements.”
During public comments residents objected to underwriting the cost of stormwater improvements through the creation of special tax districts.
Shari Beckman of 75 Garden Road said, “It has come to our attention that you are considering levying a tax for residents around Cushman Road to pay for stormwater remediation…. That strikes us as totally unfair and inappropriate. The Village has never advocated for the costs of a project to be born by those who receive the primary benefit… We live in a town where the residents support one another – not only those that benefit themselves. A targeted tax is a slippery slope – and one we should never go down.”
Helen Maccarino read a letter from Andrew Rodman of 77 Cushman Road. It said, “It has been suggested that the Mayor may propose a special tax on neighborhoods where flood remediation projects are undertaken. This would be unprecedented and could have serious long-term consequences for the town. It would set one project against another and create ongoing disputes over who should bear the cost.”
“Rather than adopting a short-term solution with unintended consequences, the town should continue to fund infrastructure projects that benefit all residents through shared responsibility. Reducing flood risk benefits the entire community. The headwaters in our area are regional, so this issue extends beyond our neighborhood. A special tax would allow those who contributed to the flooding problem to benefit from the improvements without sharing the cost. Our neighborhood should not be singled out to pay for a project that benefits many others, including residents of White Plains.”
“I moved to the Cushman area in 1991, and since then the number of approvals for larger new homes has been striking. The increase in impervious surfaces and changes to drainage patterns have worsened flooding throughout Scarsdale. Residents who did not tear down and rebuild their homes should not bear the consequences of poor planning decisions. These approvals should not have been granted, especially given the long-standing awareness that these areas are prone to flooding.”
“Likewise, residents should not be separately charged for projects like Georges Field if earlier flood-control efforts failed due to engineering mistakes. We should address these issues as one community. When Greenacres School was renovated, only Greenacres residents were not asked to pay for it, because the whole town shared the benefits of a better school in Greenacres. This special tax would be bad for the town and would depart from both the principles of community and past village precedent. Please approve the debt authorization without imposing a special tax.”
And Maccarino added, “Scarsdale is a soggy village. Flooding is a hazard in many neighborhoods. We are all vulnerable to the next big storm. Infrastructure funding is in the budget because it is long overdue. We all pay because we benefit us all – I don’t use the pool or have kids in the schools but I pay for it all. This would penalize our neighborhood for a problem that is not our fault. If White Plains is not asked to help, you are asking us to pay for the run-off. It is like a bad gangster movie. If you want to be safe from flooding, pay up.”
Barry Abramson of 98 Garden Road said, “I agree totally with the Beckmans and Helen. I have lived there for 28 years. The neighborhood has been neglected for years – We have been here…. We have suffered. Don’t impose an extra heavy financial burden upon us. Scarsdale has a non-partisan policy – a special tax district is a partisan policy.”
Andrew Fein of Greendale Road said, “Residents are being asked to fund a project without access to the details. We have not been able to review detailed plans. If the Village is considering a special tax district, residents should have access to these plans. Visual representation would help residents understand. Make detailed plan available.”
Responding to the comments the Mayor seemed to equivocate on whether or not the Board was seriously considering the creation of special tax districts. He said, “I hope there is a recognition that we are trying to address stormwater.” Regarding the creation of special tax districts he said, “I am sorry that there was a feeling that it was happening… It did come up at that meeting but a lot more would have to happen. I think it is an interesting conversation about how we use our resources…..it is a discussion about a cost benefit analysis…. We are moving forward (with the bond authorizations) but I think it is an interesting concept. There is a lot that needs to be discussed about funding projects that we have to pay for.”
Village Announces Relaunch of Freightway Development Site and Unveils Winning Anniversary Flag Design
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The Scarsdale Board of Trustees relaunched the development process for the Freightway site, unveiled the winning design for the 325th anniversary flag of Scarsdale and recognized Gun Violence Day at their meeting on Thursday May 28, 2026.
Freightway Lot
Scarsdale Mayor Justin Arest and Village Planner Kellan Cantrell announced the first step in the possible development of the Freightway Parking lot. The lot has outlived its useful life and requires millions of dollars of repairs to stay open. Many see an opportunity to build a mixed-use structure on the site and the adjoining open lot with parking, housing and retail space.
As an initial step, the Village Board declared themselves the lead agency for a Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) which would study potential development impacts on:
-Schools and municipal services
-Traffic, mobility and parking
-Infrastructure and environmental conditions
-Fiscal benefits to the Village
-Community character and the Village Center
-The relationship to the train station area
The Mayor explained, “By declaring the Village Board as lead agency, the Village will lead and conduct the environmental review before inviting any developers for proposals and the community’s priorities will shape the process from the start.”
“The GEIS will allow the Village to examine a broad range of what if scenarios before the development process. ... and if the study concludes that redevelopment cannot meet Scarsdale’s community standards, the Village has no obligation to move forward.”
Cantrell emphasized that there would be many opportunities for public involvement at all stages of the process with public hearings and meetings. In order to build public consensus for the redevelopment of the site, he said, “We invite you into it from the start.”
He said, “A redevelopment could reduce the long term burden and create a revenue opportunity for the Village.” He announced a series of upcoming meetings with the first being a Board of Trustees work session on June 16, 2026 to review the GEIS process, present findings on the impact on schools and to receive public comments.
Additional meetings are scheduled for:
July 14
July 28
August 11
The timeline calls for the publication of the findings in March 2027.
See the presentation here:
Commenting on the announcement, former Village Trustee Seth Ross said, “I am the head of the Scarsdale Forum’s working group which has been studying the Freightway site, but speaking on my own behalf … There are so many reasons to move forward with the study. The garage is unsightly and underutilized. I urge you to learn more at https://www.thefreightwayscarsdale.com/ a new website that will be launched tomorrow. This is a complex situation. Work with your village board on the responsible development of the site. Join the effort in whatever way you believe productive. “
Village Trustee Tim Foley concurred. He said, “We just passed a resolution for a half million dollars to repair Freightway –- this garage is not staying the same – it is deteriorating.”
Take a look at the new Freightway website, thefreightwayscarsdale.com for more on the process and the project timeline.
Flag Design Contest
The results of the Scarsdale 325th anniversary flag design contest were announced. Deputy Mayor Gruenberg said that 42 designs were submitted, from artists ranging in age from 9 to 72 years old. A committee evaluated the designs, without knowing the artists’ names. From the entrees, two stood out and it turns out these designs were submitted by a mother and a son. The Village then asked for help combining the best of the two designs and came up with the following flag which will be hung in five locations around the Village. The flag was designed by Ling Zhu and Entong Deng. Gruenberg thanked Assistant Village Manager Ruby Tower for running the contest and organizing the flag display.
Gun Violence Awareness Day
In recognition of National Gum Violence Awareness Day all the members of the board and village staff wore orange lapel pins in honor of the event.
Mayor Justin Arest read the following proclamation, designating June 5 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day in the Village of Scarsdale.
Whereas, every day, nearly 130 people in the United States are killed by gun violence and more than 200 are shot and wounded; and
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1,000 people die from firearm-related injuries in New York State each year; and
Whereas, protecting public safety in our community is the Village’s highest responsibility; and
Whereas, support for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens goes hand-in-hand with keeping firearms out of the hands of those who pose a danger to themselves or others; and
Whereas, in January 2013, Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old teenager who had marched in President Obama’s second inaugural parade just days earlier, was tragically shot and killed; and
Whereas, to honor Hadiya Pendleton and the many victims and survivors of gun violence across our country, communities nationwide recognize the first Friday in June as National Gun Violence Awareness Day and wear orange as a symbol of the value of human life; and
Whereas, the idea was inspired by Hadiya’s friends, who chose orange because hunters wear it to make themselves visible to others and protect human life; and
Whereas, the Village of Scarsdale encourages residents to reflect upon the impact of gun violence and recommit ourselves to keeping our communities safe; and
Whereas, on this day we also remember the efforts of Ms. Pat Colella, local resident and dedicated Gun Violence activist, who passed away in May 2023.
Now, Therefore, I, Justin Arest, Mayor of the Village of Scarsdale, do hereby proclaim Friday, June 5, 2026, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day in the Village of Scarsdale, and encourage all residents to support efforts to prevent gun violence and honor the value of every human life.
Con Ed to Inspect and Repair Damaged Sewer Laterals, A Call for Green Infrastructure and More from the Scarsdale Village Board
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There was good news this week for residents in Greenacres and Fox Meadow whose sewer lateral lines may have been damaged by Con Edison’s installation of a large gas transmission line from August 2021-October 24, 2026.
On May 12, Con Ed issued a press release that confirmed that they will conduct inspections of lateral sewer lines for specified homes along Walworth Avenue and Fox Meadow Road that may have been damaged during the installation of a large gas main.
Here is what Con Ed said:
This informational notice provides important details about Con Edison’s plan to offer sewer-lateral video inspections to homeowners whose sewer laterals may have been impacted by previous gas construction activities performed along Walworth Avenue between August 2021 and January 2023 and Fox Meadow Road between May 2023 and October 2024 by a contractor working for the Company.
What we are offering:
• A licensed sewer lateral inspector will conduct video inspections from the home to the sewer line in the roadway;
• Appointments Monday-Friday over the next several weeks beginning May 18, 2026, with the expectation of completion by the end of June; and
• Access to the video inspection at no cost to the homeowner.
The memo says they will repair any lines that were found to be damaged by the construction activity.
Click here to see the addresses of homes on the list, to schedule an appointment and to get answers to your questions from Con Edison. Residents who want to schedule an inspection or have questions should email [email protected].
At the Village Board meeting on Tuesday May 12, 2026, some still had questions about the issue and may not have been aware of the press release issued earlier that day.
Antony Lacoudre of 73 Walworth Avenue presented the Board with a list of residents on Walworth who had already had to make repairs to their sewage lines. He said, “Five people had to pay between $20,000-$40,000 and 20 people had a camera scope showing faulty connections. Something happened external to us. It hit Walworth Avenue hard.”
Joe Lawrence of 7 Walworth Avenue who has been advocating for the Village to defend residents said, “I want to review the letter I got from Con Ed. A Ms. Cummings handed me the flyer and said she had contacted 50 houses in Greenacres and was going to head down to Fox Meadow tomorrow. She said the list is based on engineers’ diagrams on where those laterals cross the sewer main.”
“I am glad that Scarsdale is being transparent about this and that Con Ed is accepting responsibility for it and will make the repairs. I want to thank the Mayor for getting involved- there was a lot of resistance in the beginning. They are only assuming responsibility for the connection in the street. This does not certify our lines – but they might be out of code anyway. Many of the lines are clay and subject to damage. The construction did jeopardize the integrity of our streets. The construction went on for a long time and we were very inconvenienced. And now we will be inconvenienced again when they tear up the streets to repair our lateral lines. I am glad they are assuming the cost of repairing the lines, but the inconvenience is still there. I am wondering what they could do as an act of public sympathy…. do something for the residents. It is really absurd what we had to go through. It doesn’t do any good for Scarsdale. It is just connecting one community to another. We could have Con Ed help our community…. to help pay for a park, kids programs, charitable donations to community efforts. I am glad that we reached this conclusion. We have a solution at hand. I am happy that everyone will have their lines inspected – even those that were not affected by the construction.”
Calling in, Michael Levine said, “I live on Walworth – but my house is not on the list for an inspection. How were houses put on the list? There was activity on the side streets – Colvin, Berkeley, Brayton – is there an assurance that unless your lateral goes to Walworth that there is no exposure? If the connection is to a side street – not Walworth – could there be exposure?”
Also calling in, Yiwei Fang from 29 Walworth asked, “Have they committed to inspect every house on Walworth or only the ones on the list?”
The Mayor responded saying, “The list was created based on engineer’s drawings. Village staff added any homes to the list whose sewer lines were above or below the line. If you are being inspected it doesn’t mean there was damage – but Con Edison will repair any damage. About 60% of the laterals on the list were cut – and restored. I would encourage you to email the woman who was walking around to ask your questions. They believe that the damage is only where the transmission line was routed.”
About the flyers the Mayor said, “Some of the flyers were delivered – but not all. We were told a good amount were delivered. There is an email address in the FAQ that we pushed out – we want everyone to know about it.”
Stormwater and Green Infrastructure
In other business at the Village Board, SHS Junior Laila El Moselhy called for the Village to incorporate green infrastructure into the Sheldrake Watershed project with involves draining and culverts across the street from the Scarsdale Middle School and a retention basin at the school field.
She said, "Good evening. My name is Laila El Moselhy, I live at 35 Brite Ave and I’m a junior at Scarsdale High School.
I’m interested in civil engineering, and over the past few months, I’ve been trying to learn more about how infrastructure decisions get made in Scarsdale. I reached out to the Village Engineering Department and spent time speaking with Village Engineer Dave Goessl about the challenges the Village is facing.
What struck me most was how much of the work today is about maintaining systems that were built generations ago, aging storm drains, sewer lines, culverts, and flood-control infrastructure that were never designed for the kinds of storms we’re experiencing now.
I saw the impact of that personally during Hurricane Ida in 2021. I live on Brite Avenue, and that night, cars stalled in the roadway, basements flooded, and neighbors who had never experienced flooding before suddenly faced major damage and reconstruction. Since then, the Village has clearly taken the issue seriously. There have been drainage studies, engineering reports, environmental reviews, and major discussions about flood mitigation throughout the Village, but I am here specifically about the Sheldrake watershed.
I’m here tonight because I want to recommend a newer way of going about these infrastructure projects that you may or may not have already looked into.
As I understand it, the Sheldrake flood-mitigation project and the middle school’s field work are now happening at roughly the same location and on a similar timeline. This creates a rare opportunity for coordination, not only in construction but potentially in funding.
Most of the flood-control projects currently under discussion rely on what engineers call gray infrastructure: larger pipes, culverts, and storage systems designed to move water away more efficiently. Those investments are important and necessary.
But there’s also another category of infrastructure that many communities are adopting alongside traditional systems: green stormwater infrastructure.
That includes things like bioswales, rain gardens, permeable pavement, and other landscape features that help absorb and slow stormwater before it overwhelms drainage systems downstream. New York City has installed over eleven thousand of these and cut runoff into combined sewers by more than twenty percent. I want to highlight New York State’s program called the Green Resiliency Grant. It funds up to ninety percent of the cost of projects using green infrastructure, up to ten million dollars per project. The state awarded sixty million dollars last fall, and the next cycle is opening soon.
The Sheldrake project is already going to disturb the middle school site. While the ground is open, I was wondering if the village could pair the Sheldrake work with watershed-scale green-infrastructure components. Such as, bioswales along streets that feed the basin, permeable surfaces at parking lots, and a bioretention feature on the school grounds. And then apply for a Green Resiliency Grant to pay for it.
Because the site is already being studied, engineered, and disturbed for stormwater work, this may be exactly the kind of moment when integrated planning can save money and strengthen long-term resilience at the same time.
I also think this could become an educational opportunity. Scarsdale students are learning about climate science, sustainability, engineering, and public policy in the classroom. A visible, modern stormwater-management project in our own community could become a real-world example of those ideas in practice."
The Mayor thanked her and said “there has been discussions about stormwater improvements at that site – staff has been talking --but I don’t know if exactly what you are discussing has been discussed. Please share your information with us.”
Trustee Tim Foley added, “You are right – this is a trend among communities to see how they can improve stormwater infrastructure while making repairs. I saw a similar project in Hoboken. You are definitely ahead of the curve.”
Village Manager Alex Marshall reminded residents of some upcoming events. She invited everyone to the Memorial Day Parade on Monday May 25, 2026. She said there will be a celebration of the nation’s 250th and Scarsdale 325th birthdays at 10 am where the winner of the Scarsdale Flag Design contest will be announced – and the flag will be revealed.
On Sunday May 31, there will be a 325th birthday celebration for Scarsdale at Chase Park from 9:00 am – 1:30 pm with fun and games for children – along with the weekly Farmer’s Market.
Resolutions
Trustees passed the following resolutions:
-Alpine Tree was given a contract for Village tree work for emergencies and off-peak hours.
-A resolution for $40,000 was signed to deliver police uniforms.
-The Village wide fee schedule was adopted for June 2026.
-Eilenn Gregwear was appointed as Deputy Village Clerk and Deputy Town Clerk.
Letters
Letters were received requesting additional hours for public access to the Take it or Leave it Shed, concerning the antisemitic incident at the high school and another inviting the Board of Trustee to the Girl Scouts Gold Award ceremony on June 7 at 4 pm at the Girl Scout House on Wayside Lane.
Tax Collections
The Deputy Village Treasurer reported that the County’s collection percentage for this year is 92.40%, indicating that current county tax collections are slightly lower than they were at this point in 2025, when the rate was 93.24%.
As of May 7, 2026, an additional $1,390,535 in County taxes has been collected, leaving an uncollected balance of $2,116,472. Delinquent reminders for the 2026 County tax were mailed and emailed on May 7, 2026.
As of April 30, 2026, total outstanding liens amount to $514,998. In addition, outstanding current tax collections totaling $1,002,968 were transferred to delinquent lien status effective May 1, 2026.
Ask the Village Manager: Responses to Questions about Aspen Park, Village Parking and Con Edison
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A new playground has been installed in Aspen Park.This week we received questions from readers about the playground at Aspen Park, damaged sewer laterals and Christie Place parking restrictions. Here are answers from Village Manager Alexandra Marshall.
The Aspen Park playground is not open. It looks like new equipment is being installed. Can you let us know when it will open?
The new playground equipment at Aspen Park has been installed and site restoration, including final site grading and seeding, concluded on Wednesday, April 29. The site will remain closed for 2 to 3 weeks to allow the grass seed to germinate. We plan to have a ribbon cutting ceremony which I will share with you once we have a date finalized.
Con Ed now says they will do the inspections of the sewer laterals on Fox Meadow Road and Walworth Avenue - and pay for the repairs. Is that true? Is there documentation about this?
Public parking begins at 11 am at Christie Place.Con Edison informed us today that notices will be hand delivered Tuesday and Wednesday of next week regarding sewer lateral inspections. The notices will include a list of impacted addresses. The Con Edison employee delivering the notices will be able to schedule appointments in person. Otherwise, notices will be left in residents’ mailboxes and appointments can be scheduled using the dedicated e-mail address listed. Con Edison anticipates starting the inspection work during the week of May 18. Our Con Edison contact reconfirmed that they intend to arrange for repairs if damage to any laterals was caused by their contractors work. As soon as we have a copy of the final notice, we will be sharing the information directly with the impacted neighborhood associations as well as via press release and other official channels.
At Christie Place, public parking hours were changed so that you can’t park there before 11 am. That’s tough for folks with early appointments in the Village or those who are taking the train into the city. Can you explain why the morning hours were changed?
Regarding your parking question for the Christie Place Garage, starting in Fall 2025, public parking hours were adjusted to begin at 11:00 AM. This change came in response to feedback from Christie Place permit holders, who reported difficulty finding available spaces during weekday mornings. The updated start time also aligns with public parking hours at the Scarsdale Avenue meter lot, ensuring consistency across both locations. We continue to offer 4-hour public parking in Christie Place Garage, upper level.
Village Board Adopts 2026-27 Budget, Acknowledges Denim Day, Condems Antisemitism and more
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The Scarsdale Village Board covered a lot of ground at a fast-paced meeting on Tuesday Night April 28, acknowledging Denim Day, offering new information on Con Edison’s response to problems with the gas main installation, commenting on the recent antisemitic incident and finally approving the 2026-27 Village budget.
Denim Day
The Board and staff were all dressed in denim to mark “Denim Day,” and Mayor Justin Arest read a Denim Day proclamation to stand in solidarity with women against sexual violence. Wearing denim is a statement of support for survivors.
Antisemitic Incident
Both the Mayor and Trustee David Goldschmidt addressed antisemitism, with the Mayor saying, “I have been in communication with school leadership throughout, working closely with our Police Department, and my position is clearly reflected in the statement I have already issued.”
“I appreciate the Board of Education’s most recent statement, which I thought struck the right tone. I understand the administration has taken action with respect to those involved, and I hope that action was meaningful and appropriate. I am not in a position tonight to speak to the specifics, as that is within the school’s jurisdiction, not the village’s. And I believe that Board understands that while words definitely matter, what matters even more are the actions that follow, and that is what our community will be watching. I intend to remain engaged, and I expect that the village and the schools will work closely together as this community moves forward.”
Later at the meeting, Goldschmidt said, “I would also like to address the deeply troubling antisemitic incident that occurred at Scarsdale High School ten days ago. I echo and support the mayor’s remarks. The conduct displayed by the students or students involved is wholly unacceptable and cannot be dismissed as a youthful prank. Acts of hate and expressions of antisemitism have no place in our community, certainly not in our schools.”
“Accountability is essential, and I trust that the school administration will respond appropriately. But this moment calls for more than discipline – it calls for reflection and reaffirmation. It is an opportunity not only for students, but for all of us, to re-commit to the values upon which this nation was founded.”
“As we approach the 250th anniversary of our country’s founding, it is worth recalling the enduring principles of tolerance and liberty that define us. In 1790, George Washington wrote to the Hebrew congregation at the Touro Synagogue in Newport Rhode Island, affirming a vision of a nation grounded in religious freedom. He wrote that the Government of the United States “gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance,” and that all who live under its protection need only conduct themselves as good citizens. He offered a hopeful promise that “everyone shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid.”
“At times in our history, we have fallen short of this ideal. Today, we must ensure that we do not lose sight of it again. I expect the school administration and the Board of Education to seize this moment to reinforce these fundamental democratic values.”
“As a Trustee, I take seriously my obligations as the mayor has stated—to safeguard the safety and security of all our residents, whether on our streets, our recreational fields, or in our schools. We will remain vigilant to ensure that every member of our community can live without fear and with the full dignity they deserve.”
Con Edison
The Mayor offered an update to residents along Walworth Avenue and Fox Meadow Road whose lateral sewer lines may have been damaged when Con Edison installed a large gas main. He announced that an FAQ about the issue was now available on the Village website.
Furthermore, he said that the utility would be hand delivering letters to potentially impacted home about schedule inspections with an independent vendor. These are expected to be completed in about a month, providing residents are able to schedule them. Following the inspections, Con Edison has agreed to hold a meeting with the Village to discuss next steps.
Winston Burrell
The Mayor noted the passing of Village employee Winston Burrell. He said, “It is with great sadness that I share the passing of Winston Burrell, a member of our Facilities Maintenance team, who left us on Thursday, April 23.
Winston joined the Village of Scarsdale in March 2008, and for 18 years he was a steady and familiar presence here at Village Hall. He often worked late into the evening, taking care of this building during meetings like this one, right here in Rutherford Hall.
Those who knew him remember not just the work he did, but how he did it. Winston greeted everyone with a fist bump, something many of us will remember. He also had a quiet way of looking out for people, often making sure staff got to their cars safely after long nights.
When my term as Trustee ended in 2022, I made sure to thank Winston in my closing remarks. His smile and wave at the end of a long night was something I came to expect and appreciated, and something that I will certainly miss. Winston was a proud husband and father, and he will be deeply missed by his family, by our staff, and by everyone who knew him.”
Comments from Village Manager Alex Marshall
Marshall reminded everyone that county tax bills are due April 30. Due to policy changes at the post office, some mail does not get postmarked on the day it is dropped in the mail. However, you can request a postmark in the Post Office so that your payment will be dated before the deadline.
Next she said that Destination Scarsdale and the Farmer’s Market kicks off in Scarsdale Village on Sunday May 3 from 8:30 to 1:30pm. She encouraged everyone to come to the Village to enjoy the market and special events which will be held every Sunday through November.
Last, the Village will begin water main flushing on May 4 and if you want to know you’re your home will be affected, refer to the schedule of water main flushing on the Village website.
Public Comments
Former Village Trustee and Board of Education member Jonathan Lewis also spoke about the antisemitic incident: He said, “The antisemitic event at Scarsdale High School is serious and has policy implications that need to be considered jointly by the Village Board and the School Board. Events like these can be precursors to violence. In that context, this event is a warning.
When I served on the village board we worked collaboratively with the board of education to put in place a memorandum of understanding that created greater operational jointness between the village and the school district on matters of safety. I encourage both boards to review those materials and to continue to consider ways to strengthen and enhance that process. This process involved, at the village level, quarterly strategic planning meetings with the village chief of police, the village fire chief, the police commissioner, the village manager, and the head of the Scarsdale volunteer ambulance corps. The purpose of these meetings was to identify ways to increase jointness between our first responders, and special consideration was given to how those first responders should collaborate if they needed to respond to a threat to our schools. As a result of those meetings and conversations, new technologies were deployed. In addition, a joint rehearsal was staged so that fire, police, and ambulance could practice responding to a mass casualty event. It is particularly important that our volunteer ambulance team participate. I would encourage both the village board and the board of education to ensure that these practices are continuing and that we continue to consider ways to improve.
In the spirit of non sibi, we should also be thinking of how the lessons we learned from these experiences can be shared beyond our village and our school district. Please know that Assembly person Amy Paulin and Senator Shelly Mayer have proposed legislation now that they are working to move forward that seeks to encourage other school districts and municipalities to apply lessons we have learned. In particular, it provides funding opportunities - specifically for the type of digital mapping technology that provides first responders with the critically important time sensitive information they need to respond and save lives: This legislation is Assembly bill A.10120 and Senate bill S.9039. I would encourage you all to support it.”
Another speaker spoke about Project Ready, a community based organization to support individuals with intellectual and physical challenges. The group provides parent support, resource navigation and inclusive programming and other services. Learn more at ProjectReady.org.
Adoption of the Village Budget
The Board voted unanimously to adopt the 2026-27 Village Budget, which had been in the works for many months, much of it the work of the prior Village Board. The three new board members acknowledged the efforts of former trustees and agreed that though the tax increase was above the tax cap of 3.65%, it was necessary to meet Village obligations and retain services.
The Mayor said, “The FY 26-27 budget before us is the result of a thorough and collaborative process that has spanned several months….. A central theme throughout this process has been the continued rise in costs, particularly pensions and healthcare. These are not discretionary expenses if we intend to maintain the level of services our residents expect and deserve.
That said, rising costs cannot become an excuse for complacency. They haven’t, and they won’t. We will continue to look for efficiencies in our operations, invest in technology that both saves money and improves the resident experience, and challenge ourselves to do more with what we have.
But we also need to be honest about the scale of the issue. The biggest pressures we are facing cannot be solved by one municipality acting alone. Real solutions will require leadership and action at the state level.
If affordability is going to mean anything in this state, it must be matched with a serious focus on long-term sustainability. Otherwise, we are on a path that risks pushing people out and undermining the very workforce that delivers essential services and has earned the benefits they were promised.
We cannot allow that to happen.
In the year ahead, our focus will be twofold. First, continuing to improve our own budgeting and operations. Second, working with partners to push for real solutions to these structural challenges.”
Everyone on the board weighed in with their thoughts on the budget and you can see their full comments below.
Deputy Mayor Gruenberg
I will be voting yes to adopt the FY 2026–2027 Village Budget.
This budget reflects more than six months of careful, sustained work by the Board and staff. Through multiple work sessions, we examined expenses department by department, challenged assumptions, and identified efficiencies, while also focusing on key drivers like infrastructure, capital planning, and revenue trends. That level of rigor gives me confidence in this budget.
Even after the Tentative Budget was filed, that work continued. The updates before us tonight include further refinements and reduce the tax levy from 5.36% to 5.17%, or approximately $408 for the average household. We work hard to keep taxes as low as possible while balancing fiscal responsibility with the exceptional services our community relies on and staff provides.
This budget reflects rising non-discretionary costs, particularly in personnel and benefits, while holding the line on staffing with no increase in full time positions. It also makes the deliberate use of fund balance to offset one time capital expenses, supporting critical infrastructure and long-term priorities while easing the immediate burden on taxpayers.
At the same time, we remain mindful of the Village’s broader capital commitments and the importance of pacing investments responsibly.
This is a thoughtful and balanced budget that reflects both fiscal discipline and forward planning. I am grateful to our staff and my colleagues for their collaboration and care throughout this process. I also want to recognize Former Trustee Gans for his leadership of the finance group, and Trustee Kofman and the Mayor for their diligent work.
Finally, I want to thank our Village Manager for her steady leadership. Thank you to the Deputy Treasurer, Village Manager’s office and Tom Vouzakis. We are deeply appreciative.
Tim Foley
To echo Mark Twain, I didn’t have time to write a short statement, so I wrote a long one instead.
This is certainly an odd calendar for those of us who are new to our roles as Trustees. Statewide election law sets a March election, followed by an April swearing in, and then, when we’ve barely had a cup of coffee in our new roles, another state law requires us to vote on a budget that had been worked, reworked, and sweated over for months before we arrived on the scene. We’re essentially weighing in at the eleventh hour.
That makes me all the more personally grateful for the work that former Trustees Gans, Mazer, and Wise, my current fellow Trustees, and especially the staff have put into this budget, which reflects a meticulous attention to detail, a culture of constant improvement when it comes to working and reworking the numbers, and a commitment to delivering the best possible value for Scarsdale taxpayers.
Though we will vote to approve the budget tonight, our residents can be assured that this commitment to professional fiscal prudence will continue into the year that will follow. The past few years have supplied the proof, as our unassigned fund balance has increased some 69% since 2021 -- not because of urgent or planned transfers, but because of savings found and adjustments made during each of those years. For the 2025-2026 budget, we had planned to use $1.85 million on capital projects -- and we did! But we still are projected to net some $600,000 additional into the unassigned fund balance even after that spending by the end of the fiscal year -- essentially $2.45 million better than expected. That should promote a high degree of confidence that the Mayor, the Manager, and the staff are doing what they can, not just today but every day.
I am also grateful for past Board of Trustees for Scarsdale’s consistent fiscal health and for managing the village’s debt burden so well over the preceding years. The Office of the State Comptroller's Fiscal Stress Monitoring System (FSMS) says that the median debt service for villages as a percentage of revenues is 8%. This year, Scarsdale is expected to be only 1.6% putting us in superb and enviable shape to make the major capital investments we need to deliver benefits for our members that will last a generation or more -- including the pool.
On the operations side, the increase in the tax levy certainly gave me pause and, new as I was, made me spend a lot of time checking and double checking the budget tables. But the reality is that the fundamentals of our operational budget have not changed. Nearly 70% of it is comprised of personnel and benefits. This budget does not increase the number of staff -- indeed it has a decrease of 2 full time positions -- and averages a standard 3% increase for compensation. But we will pay nearly as much in benefits as we do in salary this year, and must swallow a 8.3% increase in benefits that we have few if any options to mitigate.
It’s worth mentioning that Westchester County just had to enact a budget with a property tax increase after a decade and a half of zeroes or modest decreases. The initial County Executive budget had a much higher property increase than what is being proposed in Scarsdale’s budget, and it was only trimmed down with an 8% cut across all departments and a reduction in 180 positions. And it should be said the County property tax levy is only 23% of its revenues while it is 73% of ours. No matter how you look at it, I don’t think our residents have the appetite to patiently endure the contraction and the shrinking of the services that they expect and deserve that would be necessary to meet the tax cap target this year. There may someday be more efficiencies to wring out of the system through technology and future use of AI, but that day is not today.
Importantly, this budget isn’t just about maintaining the status quo. It continues to make important investments in the future of Scarsdale -- most notably in the $4.1 million in capital improvements for stormwater improvements in anticipation of the new normal of frequent extreme weather events.
Therefore, on balance, I am comfortable voting yes for this budget, but my analysis and our conversations have suggested three areas that ought to also be our focus moving forward, alongside a continuing commitment to efficiency.
First, having property taxes be 73% of our revenues is high, even for Scarsdale, and suggests there is a lot more work to be done to create incentives for more business and economic development, creating the conditions whereby we could increase the sales tax we receive, looking at property taxes on commercial properties not just residential, and applying for outside funding from the county, state, or federal government. Anything we do in these areas will help stabilize the property taxes our residents will pay in future years.
Second, the Mayor had suggested as part of a colloquy with Anne Hintermeister that we might revisit the village’s policy of a percentage target for our unassigned fund balance of 15-20% of revenues. We are anticipating being over that threshold for this year. Just as a matter of good governance, if we have a policy, we should try to follow it; and if we think the target it sets is wrong or too inflexible, we should change it. The recommended ranges by the Office of the State Comptroller and the Government Finance Officers are overlapping but not the same, and some tweaking may well be in order. I agree that using fund balance for operations is a giant red flag for rating agencies, even when branded as tax relief, and ought to be avoided unless we’re in a true fiscal crisis. But it’s worth the conversation as to whether we’re being ambitious enough in our capital projects, particularly for flood mitigation and stormwater management, given anticipated future needs.
Finally, just as an observation, tucked into the details of the budget is a tale of two Parking Garages. The Freightway Garage is budgeted to have $460,000 in revenue from parking permits, but we’re going to have to invest $416,000 in capital repairs just to keep it limping along and prevent more spaces from being structurally unusable. The village continues to shoulder all of the financial burden of what is clearly a distressed property. In the meantime, the parking garage built as part of the public-private partnership at Christie Place nets nearly as much revenue for the village -- $430,000 -- but we’re only budgeting $30,000 in improvements -- and that’s for new equipment. There is simply no way you can look at the math on Freightway and think that makes sense for our taxpayers and our budget long-term, making the wisdom of the public process to discuss what our community would prefer to see on the site -- and the guardrails we’d want to set up to make sure we’re getting the best possible outcome -- all the more clear and pressing this year.
Thank you for patience, and thank you to the staff for such superb work on this budget and all year long.
David Goldschmidt
I would like to begin by thanking the Village Manager and the entire staff for their dedication and professionalism in guiding us through the budget process this evening. Crafting a responsible budget is never an easy task, and your hard work, diligence, and commitment are evident at every stage.
This Board has been mindful of the burden that any tax increase places on our residents. We approached this process with a clear reluctance to exceed the statutory tax cap and worked diligently to keep the tax levy as low as possible. While some had hoped the increase would remain within the 3.65% cap, the reality of contractual obligations, built-in wage adjustments, and rising healthcare and pension costs made that goal unattainable. Even so, we exercised discipline by minimizing discretionary spending while continuing to meet our responsibility to maintain and improve our aging infrastructure. Let me be clear: we do not take tax increases lightly. I remain committed in the coming year to closely monitoring costs and striking the right balance between fiscal responsibility and the high level of services our residents expect and deserve. I commend my fellow Board members for sharing this commitment.
Jason Kofman
I want to thank the Village Manager, the Deputy Treasurer and the rest of the Village team for your diligent work on this exercise, which has been many months in the making and in full transparency for our residents.
I support passage of this Budget. I am satisfied that we are setting the Village Tax levy at the point that optimizes the delivery of services expected by our residents, provides appropriate compensation for Village staff, and provides the Village with the financial resources to support important and, in some cases, long-awaited capital investments.
While I am not happy with the size of the Village Tax levy - - like all Scarsdale homeowners I would prefer it to be lower - - it is appropriate in order to support the operational needs of the Village. As a reminder, mandatory personnel expense increases soak up over 90% of the tax levy, leaving very little funds to support other investments. And as we have stated multiple times, this Budget contains no increase in Village headcount and actually requires elimination of 2 part-time roles.
I also support the Fund Balance strategy set forth in this Budget. It provides the Village with a robust financial backstop in support of the Village’s Aaa credit rating while giving us flexibility as we decide how to finance capital spending the for coming fiscal year. As a reminder, we expect a significant amount of capital spending to come.
In sum, I support passing this budget and I encourage my fellow Board members to support passage as well. Thank you.
Ron Schulhof
I believe the proposed budget continues to deliver services that our residents expect, funds new and important projects, and is fiscally responsible with our taxpayer dollars.
As has been mentioned throughout the budget process, mandated costs (such as healthcare) continue to rise significantly each year, which makes it increasingly difficult to fund other areas of the budget without placing an undue burden on residents. I am grateful for the hard work of the Village Manager, Village Staff, Mayor and the previous Board, who worked diligently to manage those costs while ensuring Scarsdale continues to receive the services, projects, and capital improvements that make our Village such a wonderful place to live.
As in prior years, the budget process was transparent, deliberate, and collaborative. Thank you to the residents who shared their feedback throughout.
Scott Silberfein
Tonight, I will be voting in support of the adoption of the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27. I am confident that the extensive work, collaboration, and careful iterations that went into the budget's development have produced a budget that thoughtfully balances many competing priorities including maintaining essential services and operations for our residents, meeting our contractual obligations, and exercising prudence and discipline with precious taxpayer dollars.
Thank you to our dedicated staff, current and former trustees, and the members of our community who contributed their time, input, and thoughtful comments throughout the budget process.
