BY: JESSE DWYER, WARWICK SUPERVISOR
For Town information log on to www.townofwarwick.org.
Town of Warwick Adopts 2026 Budget Staying Under the State Tax Cap
The Town Board for the Town of Warwick has officially adopted its 2026 Annual Budget —staying below the New York State mandated tax cap.
This year’s budget presented significant financial challenges, with health insurance costs rising 10%, recycling expenses increasing 17%, workers compensation up 11%, and electricity costs climbing 10%. Like families and households across our community, the Town continues to feel the impact of inflation and rising costs across every sector.
Despite these challenges, the Town Board and our dedicated staff and department heads remained committed to maintaining strong fiscal discipline while continuing to invest in the services that matter most to our residents. The adopted 2026 budget includes increased funding for public safety, senior citizen programs, road paving, Dial-a-Bus and public transportation, parks, and open space initiatives.
Importantly, the Town accomplished this while using less of our fund balance — our municipal “savings account” — to balance the budget. This marks the second consecutive year that Warwick has reduced its reliance on fund balance for operating expenses, further strengthening the Town’s long-term financial position.
For the average assessed home in the Town of Warwick, the 2026 budget reflects an increase of approximately $22.72 per household.
Thank You to Everyone Who Supported Our Community Food Drive
This past weekend, the Town of Warwick held a Food Pantry Drive-Through Event in partnership with the Regional Food Bank to support local families in need. A special thank you goes out to Beth Maas of the Florida Food Pantry for her tremendous efforts in helping to coordinate this event, and to the many volunteers who came out to lend a hand. Your hard work and generosity made this effort a true success. When you can’t always count on higher levels of government to act quickly, our local community always finds a way to take care of its own.
Thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered, or simply helped spread the word. Together, we continue to make our town stronger.
The next Repair Café will be held on Saturday, November 15th, in the Senior Center – Town Hall Complex, 132 Kings Highway, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (last repair accepted at 1:30 p.m.). Bring your beloved but broken items where the repair coaches fix them for free (lamp and bike parts available at Repair Café’s cost). Limit two items per person, please! No gas or propane-powered items are accepted. Any questions, please contact them at organizerwarwickrepaircafe@aol.com or RepairCafeHV.org.
Orange County Hazardous Waste and Safe Scripts Collection Event will be held at Orange County Transfer Station #1, Maintenance Garage, 21 Training Center Lane, New Hampton, NY on Saturday, November 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine. This event is open to all Orange County residents with a valid ID. For a list of acceptable items, visit www.orangecountygov.com/efs.
The Town of Warwick’s Friendly Visitor Program is offering a Volunteer Training opportunity via Zoom on November 20th at 5pm. Please note that Pre-Approval is required to attend. Please contact them at volunteer@jfsorange.org or call (845) 341-1173 x305 for application details. This program offers opportunities for volunteers to help with transportation, visits, well calls, grocery shopping assistance and more.
Warwick Valley Rotary Club Annual Coat, Hat, Gloves Drive benefiting Warwick Area Farmworker Organization, Catholic Charities along with many other local organizations in need. Gently used coats, hats and gloves can be dropped off here in the lobby of Town Hall until November 20th. Donation boxes can also be found at the following locations: Leo Kaytes Ford, Warwick Village Hall, Albert Wisner Public Library, Sanfordville Elementary School, Warwick Valley Middle School, Warwick Valley High School, St. Stephen’s Church and.Pine Island Bible Church. Any questions, contact Joyce Perron at (845) 988-7685 or via email at warwickvalleyrotary@gmail.com.
Toys for Military Tots Drive 2025. WTBQ’s 10th Annual Toys for Military Tots Drive has begun. WTBQ Radio has teamed up with local organizations and businesses to collect new, unwrapped toys for age’s baby to 12 years old. These toys will be distributed to local Orange County military and veteran families. Donations can be dropped off until December 8th in the lobby of Town Hall, 132 Kings Highway. Also accepting donations of wrapping paper and ribbon. Please direct any questions to: taylor@WTBQ.com.
The next regular meeting of the Town Board will be held on Thursday, November 20th, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at Warwick Town Hall, 132 Kings Highway. A public workshop of the Town Board may take place up to 90 minutes prior to the regular scheduled meeting. The meeting will be streamed live on the Town of Warwick’s Facebook page and YouTube channel as well as Channel 21 of your cable box.