Villages adopt 2023-24 budgets

The villages of Dryden and Freeville recently adopted their respective 2023-24 budgets.

Freeville adopted its budget at $517,303, while Dryden’s new budget stands at $2,108,098.40.

According to Dryden Mayor Mike Murphy, the village was forced to raise its taxes for the first time in “quite some time.” After a rate of $7.90 per thousand in last year’s budget, the village bumped its tax rate to $9.50 per thousand, which comes out to a total tax collection of $1,347,262.40.

Murphy noted that the tax rate increase is due to inflation and the cost of renovation projects for Village Hall.

“We’ve been remodeling our Village Hall, and now we have to start paying for it,” Murphy said, referring to the 15-year, $1.9 million payback loan the village received for renovation costs. “It was absolutely needed because the place was falling apart.”

Murphy mentioned that “everything went up,” including payroll for village employees. Aside from the increase in expenses, Dryden’s budget anticipates $614,612 and $764,000 in project revenues for the water and sewer funds.

“We tried to be as responsible as we could,” Murphy said. “It was a hard year for all of the villagers economically, and it was also hard for the village hall not to increase the pressure on our villagers by raising our taxes. We’re very sorry we had to.”

As for Freeville, Mayor Miles McCarty noted that the tax rate is at 1.2%, which comes out to $128,138 in raised taxes.

“It was lower than we expected it to be,” he said, adding that the tax rate has been capped at or around 2% for the past few years.

McCarty noted that the lower tax increase is largely due to a developer building 12 houses on Main Street in the village.

“It should improve tax-based sums and lower the rate on the sewer [fund],” McCarty said, referring to Freeville’s estimated revenue of $147,761 in the sewer fund.

One surprise addition to the budget was noted by McCarty. 

The village was recently awarded a $4,930 grant through the Tompkins County Department of Planning and Sustainability for upgrades to Groton Avenue Park and Mill Dam Park.

Before the county officially hands Freeville the grant funding, the village will have to pay out of pocket to cover the costs of park improvements. After the projects have been completed, Freeville will submit receipts to receive grant funding for reimbursement.

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

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Dryden Family Medicine to join Cayuga Medical Associates

Cayuga Medical Associates (CMA) recently announced that Dryden Family Medicine will officially join CMA on June 1, according to a release.

Dryden Family Medicine will be renamed Cayuga Primary Care Family Medicine of Dryden. 

“We have worked closely with CMA and Cayuga Health System (CHS) for many years already, and believe strongly in their expertise, their desire to provide high-quality care to all of us in this area and their ability to help us move forward and keep our practice sustainable,” said Dr. Howard Silcoff, physician partner for Dryden Family Medicine.

Dryden Family Medicine has been part of the Dryden community since Dr. John Ferger started his practice in his home in 1955.

“[Dryden Family Medicine] is well-known for its patient-centered approach and commitment to improving the health and well-being of individuals and families,” stated the release. “By joining forces with Cayuga Medical Associates, Dryden Family Medicine will leverage the resources, technology, and collaborative environment offered by Cayuga Health. This partnership enables Dryden Family Medicine to continue to provide comprehensive care to patients while maintaining the personalized attention and compassion for which they are known.”

Patients of Dryden Family Medicine should expect minimal change. The 5 Evergreen St. location and contact information will remain the same. Medical records will be transitioned to Cayuga Medical Associates, unless a patient requests a records transfer.

“We are pleased to welcome the providers and staff of Dryden Family Medicine – already a Cayuga Health Partner – to the CMA family,” said Dr. Martin Stallone, president and CEO of Cayuga Health. “We look forward to working with them to extend their long and storied history of serving the Dryden area.”

Results from Dryden Central School District’s vote on propositions and BOE election

The Dryden Central School District (DCSD) had its annual vote on propositions and the Board of Education (BOE) candidate elections last Tuesday.

DCSD’s proposed 2023-24 budget of $46,827,740 passed by a 592-to-188 margin. The proposition for a bond at $495,000 to purchase a school bus and other transportation vehicles was approved at 591 to 192. The third proposition, a proposal to set aside $100,000 for the Freeville Elementary School building’s domestic water system and building security improvements, passed at 629 to 156.

Candidates voted onto DCSD’s Board of Education were David Peck (627 votes), Daniel Mulligan (585 votes) and Heather Williams (463 votes). Lawrence Lyon fell short at 398 votes.