The town board approved the 2025 municipal budget last week, the last one to be put together by Supervisor Charles Carnes.

The $6.46 million budget is up $138,205 from this year’s budget. The budget includes the $2.44 million highway department budget and lesser amounts from, among others, the water and sewer and lighting districts.

The town intends to raise $3.4 million through property taxes, an increase of $186,221 from this year, or 2.975 percent. The increase is under the state budget cap, Carnes said. The owner of a house assessed at $100,000 with a market value of $413,907 would pay an additional $44 a year in property taxes, Carnes said, giving an example of the impact on property owners. Carnes, a financial planner by trade, has made a point of keeping tax increases to a minimum.

Other significant revenue will come from Orange County. Carnes budgeted $1.4 million as the town’s share of sales tax receipts, and anticipates receiving $225,000 in mortgage taxes.

But total revenue will come to just $6.21 million, so to balance the budget Carnes allocated $250,000 from the town’s surplus account.

If you were born in 2000 or after, Charlie Carnes, is the only supervisor you’ve ever known. When Carnes, a Republican, was last re-elected at age 65 in 2023 he said it was unlikely he would serve out the full two-year term, but left open when he would leave. This week, while chatting about the budget, he said he’ll resign in January or February. The all-Republican town board will choose his successor, but it will most likely be Deputy Supervisor Michael Melendez.

It is time to enjoy retirement when you’re still able, Carnes said when asked what comes next. Carnes, who is married and has three grown children, plans to travel and spend more time at his place in the Adirondacks. Eventually, he plans to move to Tennessee.

This year’s budget was marked by large increases in line items Carnes can’t control. Insurance, for example, is rising to $250,000 from $200,000. And line item for police retirements will go to $380,000 from $325,000. The town’s share of covering paid Pine Bush Ambulance employees will rise to $190,000 from $165,000.

The board held a public hearing on the budget before the vote. No one spoke for or against it. Neither did anybody speak at a public hearing on a new local law granting property tax exemptions for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers. The exemption amounts to 10 percent of the levy on the assessed value of the primary residence of the applicant who must live in Crawford. The principal service area of the fire department or ambulance company must also be in Crawford. The board approved the exemption.

Short-Term Rental Ban Proposed

Acting on complaints of residents, the town board is proposing a local law to ban short-term rentals in town “to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public, property owners and residents.”

The proposed law which has been in the works for months, was a late addition to the agenda. The board scheduled a public hearing on the law for the next regular town board meeting on November 21.

The proposal defines short-term as any period less than 30 days. Along with banning the short-term rental of any building, dwelling unit or portion of real property of shelter, the law would also prohibit the rental of a private residential pool, yard, sports court or other amenities.

The town zeroed in on property offered on such websites as Airbnb, Home Away or VRBO, but made clear that the prohibition was not limited to those well-known sites. Criminal penalties for offenses shall not exceed $500 a day or imprisonment of not more than 15 days or both, according to the proposed law. Offenders will also be subject to civil penalties.

Short-term rentals are distinct from bed and breakfasts which are legal in town provided the property owner or caretaker lives on the premises.