Managing for today, building for tomorrow, planning for the future
Click to see investment in Hyde Park since 2012
Six years of good governance has produced results for Hyde Park residents and taxpayers.
Having successfully been elected for three successive terms to the offices of Supervisor and Town Board, Team Hyde Park has had the necessary time to establish goals based on the desires articulated by residents, and initiate the actions to bring those goals to fruition. Sound management of staff and resources, vision with firm plans to achieve, close attention to detail for managing expenses and ambitious projects have been our trademark.
Yet, our work is not done, and we are eagerly running for our fourth term. Effectuating our plans for downtown growth and continuing strong management of tax dollars -- producing a stable, positive government -- are necessary to maintain the momentum of change established over the last six years.
Good government is not happenstance. It requires constant effort to go above and beyond, to be creative and cooperative, practical and realistic, and goal oriented to produce results.
Team Hyde Park’s responsible management creates financial stability
For the fifth year in a row, the Town of Hyde Park is in excellent financial condition, according to independent audits. When Team Hyde Park took office in 2012, the Town’s fund balances had been depleted, with the highway fund balance in the red. In fact, the “books" had not been balanced in well over a year, leading to a dangerous lack of certainty for the Town. The prior Town Board had instituted a 19% tax increase during this time, leaving residents and businesses concerned about the lack of planning and leadership.
Through careful management of tax dollars, strict oversight of the way business is conducted, smart personnel decisions, and hands-on involvement in all financial decisions, the Rohr administration has substantially built the Town’s savings account, creating a cushion for tomorrow's needs, and produced stable budgets with less than 2% tax increase for all years in office.
Good government is hard work, and creating real change requires extraordinary efforts to address economic trends typically beyond the framework of local government. Former Beacon Mayor Clara Lou Gould, often cited as the catalyst for the transformation of Beacon, said, "Have a big vision, take small steps to achieve it.”
Team Hyde Park has a vision, which includes a vibrant town center served by the necessary water, sewer, and pedestrian infrastructure that will allow a variety of housing and commercial uses that serve residents, businesses and visitors and that leverages our amazing tourism sites, trails, scenic beauty and our best asset, our people.
Team Hyde Park uses available resources to leverage investment
With our Downtown Initiative, we are making this happen (www.hpdowntown.com). Thanks to NYS DOT grant funds that Hyde Park obtained, the first phase of sidewalks is under construction, creating an attractive connection along a busy corridor. With a NYS grant we obtained through NYSERDA, we are creating the plans needed for a vibrant center, including the necessary sewer design, new zoning, and traffic plans. With CDBG monies, granted through Dutchess County, we will build a connection to Pinewoods Park.
The Rohr administration has also used competitive grants to purchase equipment to lower road salt usage, improve function of water/sewer districts, upgrade building approval functions, create innovative zoning for the historic Crossroads, build sidewalks for residents, and provide seed money for sewer creation. These funds would have been directed to other communities if not for active efforts of town officials to identify, apply for and manage these grants.
The Town Board recently approved an agreement with the developers of Bellefield at Hyde Park to alter their original environmental mitigation agreement and instead provide a $1,250,000 contribution to a commercial sewer district for the existing town center area. This contribution will add to the $500,000 awarded through Dutchess County's Partnership for Management Growth. With these two funding sources in place, the Rohr administration has applied for additional funding through the NYS Empire State Development and Climate Smart Communities programs to bridge the gap in affordability that has prevented a long needed commercial sewer district from becoming a reality.
Team Hyde Park is responsive, pragmatic and realistic
Team Hyde Park is attentive to residents’ concerns. Supervisor Rohr and the ward councilmembers work every day to solve problems for residents. Councilmembers take pride in promptly answering residents’ calls and meeting with them to help solve problems like drainage, property maintenance, traffic safety and other neighborhood challenges.
The Rohr administration has also created a network of communication and trust with local, county, state and federal agencies. Negotiating an agreement with state and county partners, the Town solved the long standing Greentree issue. Utilizing shared service agreements with Dutchess County for snow plowing has resulted in increased revenues for the highway department.
Because of the support of Hyde Park's wonderful people, volunteer groups, business community and our partners at county government, especially County Executive Molinaro, we are moving forward on realizing Hyde Park's bright future.
Team Hyde Park is proud of our service, our accomplishments and our vision, and we look forward to continuing our work creating a better Hyde Park.
