Newfield’s 2025 budget comes with slight tax increase

The town of Newfield has been able to stay at or below the New York state-recommended 2.86% tax cap for its budget the past handful of years.

For the 2025 budget, town officials had to make the tough decision of implementing a tax levy increase. Thankfully, said town supervisor Mike Allinger, the tax levy rose by only 0.14%.

On Oct. 30, the town board adopted the 2025 budget. It includes a 9% spike in spending and a 3% tax levy increase.

“It worked out because it passed without any fanfare,” Allinger said.

Allinger and the town board were torn between cutting services or increasing taxes. Ultimately, the board knew which option made more sense.

“We opted for that small [tax increase] percentage so we didn’t cut any services that people were expecting,” Allinger said.

The town’s spending went from $3,7738,535 in 2024 to $4,079,834 in 2025. The tax levy has gone from 2.86% to 3% — or from $2,794,442 to $2,811,359.

Allinger noted a positive trend with the tax levy through 2024. The levy decreased from $5.61 to $4.83 per $1,000 of home value, which Allinger added is due to the increased property assessments.

“All homes are within the fire district, so that is additional, but only those in the lighting district would have that additional levy,” Allinger said.

According to a summary of the budget, each year town board members “struggle with maintaining the high level of service the community has come to expect such as road maintenance, snow plowing, fire and EMS services and youth programming. The increase in the cost of providing these critical services is funded only about 25% from the increase in taxes, with the rest funded by savings from prior years, and other outside sources of funding such as grant programs and fees for service.”

The budget also includes an increase in sewer and water fees within the town’s district, which Allinger said varies in charges.

“There hasn’t been an increase in those areas since 2017, so it was a good time to look into it because the town just completed work on the sewer system over the summer,” Allinger said. “There will also be a water system overhaul in the next few years.”

Overall, Allinger said the budget process went “pretty smoothly.”

“There was some anxiety when realization set in that we couldn’t maintain the levy within that tax cap,” Allinger said. “It’s always something we’ve strived for and something we’ll continue to do in the future.”

A breakdown of the town’s 2025 budget can be found at newfieldny.org.

Newfield Notes appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Wreath workshop at the library on Dec. 21

The Newfield Public Library will have a wreath workshop on Dec. 21 at noon.

The workshop will be led by Carlin Wakefield. Essentials will be provided, as Wakefield shows methods for making a wreath. Decorations can be added to the wreaths.

There is a limit of 12 participants for the workshop. Those interested can call 607-564-3594, email newfieldlibrary@gmail.com or stop by the library.

Presentation of ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Jr.’ at Newfield Middle School this weekend

The Newfield Middle School Drama Club will present “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Jr.” on Dec. 13 and 14 at 7 p.m.

Both shows will be held at the Vince Aiosa Auditorium at Newfield Central School District at 247 Main St.

Yoga for beginners held on Saturdays this month

A yoga for beginners class will be held on Saturdays at Newfield Public Library from 10 to 11 a.m.

There will be no Saturday class on Dec. 28.

Phyllis KuanYin Chi, a yoga teacher certified through Yoga Farm in Lansing, will lead the class. The instructor also has additional training in trauma-informed yoga.

The class is on the second floor of the library. It is suitable for people new to yoga or those with mobility issues. There is also an opportunity to deepen poses for those with more experience.

The class is for ages 18 and older. Participants must have their own yoga mat or blanket. The class is free, but there is a suggested donation of $10.

‘Mind Over Body’ program on Dec. 17

The Newfield Public Library will host its “Mind Over Body” program on Dec. 17.

The program, led by instructor Mitch Raymond, will take place on the second floor of the library at 6 p.m. The presentation from Raymond breaks down how to “improve the strength, flexibility, stability, balance and skill” of participants’ bodies through practices that “enhance neuromuscular connection and physiologic well being,” according to a description.

The library recommends bringing a yoga mat to the program, and participants will work with the library’s chairs and table to assist with stability. The program will have a suggested donation of $10.