Increase in Wilmington Property Taxes

A Town Hall meeting was held on October 30, 2024 for Wilmington residents. Town residents who attended were very upset about the recent increase in property taxes. Yet at a meeting on November 8, 2024 the majority of Town Board members voted to pass a local law that would allow them to override the property tax cap. NYS law prevents communities from increasing the overall property tax levy by more than 2% per year or the rate of inflation. But communities can get around this by passing local laws. Supervisor Smith and Board members Forbes and Preston voted in favor of the law. Board members Follos and Dreissigacker Hooker voted against it. Board member Follos suggested other ways to meet budgetary needs, but Smith, Forbes, and Preston appeared unwilling to consider these alternatives. Some Wilmington residents have already been hit hard with the current property tax increase. Why do Supervisor Smith and Board members Forbes and Preston want to be able to raise property taxes further rather than considering other alternatives?