MIDDLETOWN, N.Y.—Joseph DeStefano, mayor of the City of Middletown, has proposed raising property taxes about 5 percent to cover rising costs across several departments.
If the tax increase is passed, it will end Middletown’s 15-year streak of not breaking the state tax cap. The 2026 tax cap is 2 percent, meaning municipalities cannot raise taxes by more than 2 percent over what they already were.
A local ruling or law can override the tax cap if it passes with 60 percent approval.
DeStefano said at the Oct. 27 city council meeting that the budget he’s proposing will maintain Middletown’s character.
“It reflects our priorities: clean neighborhoods, dependable garbage collection, safe streets, winter storm response, maintaining roads, parks, playgrounds, public spaces, programs and services that we’re all accustomed to in our community,” he said….