Yorktown's parks, bridges and roads are in need of repair, according to Yorktown town board members who are looking to do a number of improvement projects throughout town and agreed the best way would be to bond $1.3 million.
The town will have to prepare different bond resolutions for the involved projects. Of the $1.3 million, $350,000 would be spent to fix the Lexington Avenue Bridge, $250,000 will be spent on .
Approximately $700,000 would be spent for the Parks and Recreation Department to- $245,000 for Legacy Ballfields, $250,000 on the Route 202 fields, and $210,000 on the Downing Park tennis courts. The Sparkle Lake Dam would be fixed for $60,000.
Supervisor Susan Siegel said that the bond would cause a 1-percent tax increase, or $13.56 per year, for the average homeowner in Yorktown.
"It boils down to how much the Yorktown residents are willing to pay in taxes," she said. "The town board has to be guided by what you, the residents, want to pay for."
Councilman Jim Martorano said the town had not put the money to the recreation fields in the past years. He said the children of Yorktown need those fields, but at the same time town board members will not neglect the infrastructure of the town.
In addition, last week the town discussed at a work session putting cameras at Legacy Ballfields at a cost of approximately $50,000. The area has been subject to vandalism and the cameras, which would stream live to the Yorktown Police Department, is one measure the town is taking to prevent any further damages.
The town is also facing more spending as at least $1 million in payouts for tax assessment challenges are expected, of which half will be paid this year.
