Mid Hudson Times Nov. 25 2015

TIMES MID HUDSON Vol. 27, No 47 3 NOVEMBER 25, 2015 3 ONE DOLLAR Shop Exceptional locally! seniors Pages 27-29 Page 40 SERVING NEWBURGH AND NEW WINDSOR Feeding the masses Newburgh City Council adopts 2016 St. Mary’s Outreach continues despite church closure budget By SHANTAL RILEY [email protected] Comptroller: Property tax levy remains flat By SHANTAL RILEY [email protected] The City of Newburgh Council adopted the city’s 2016 budget on Monday. The $43.5-million spending plan includes funds for street paving, part-time code inspectors and fire department staff. The budget brings a 1.31-percent increase in the general fund, but keeps property taxes at the same level as 2015. The budget passed with a four-to-two vote by the council. The new tax levy of $19,462,564 produces a homestead tax rate of $19.5 per $1,000 of assessed property value and a non-homestead rate of $25.8 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The rates bear 30-cent and 44-cent increases, respectively. The homestead rate applies to singletwo- and three-family homes, explained city Comptroller John Aber on Tuesday. “The non-homestead rate is for four or more families, as well as all commercial properties,” he said. The enterprise fund budget - separately covering costs for sewer, water and sanitation - comes to $15,039,719, an increase of 4.2 percent from the previous year, said Continued on page 26 The line wrapped around the building from the entryway all the way to the rear parking lot. “I need the help,” said Laurie Ewanish, a city resident and mother of five as she waited at the end of the line on Friday. It was St. Mary’s Outreach Giving Day and hundreds of people came away from the building, formerly known as Mannix Hall, carrying bags of potatoes, stuffing and turkey to share with their families over the Thanksgiving holiday. “Our last Central Hudson bill was $700,” Ewanish explained. “That’s why I’m here.” It was the outreach’s fourth annual Thanksgiving Giving Day. “It’s been like this all morning,” said volunteer Annie Ryan as she scrambled to hand out gum and toiletries. Volunteers distributed frozen turkeys, chicken, and beef, eggs, oil, margarine, cheese, sour cream, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, juice, cereal and soups. The community also received coats, clothes, baby formula, over-the-counter medicines, household and personal hygiene items. Approximately 17 tons of food, clothing, housewares and furniture were distributed to about 500 families that day, said Marietta Allen, director of St. Mary’s Outreach. The average family served by the annual Giving Day makes anywhere from $12,000 to $14,000 per year, Allen said. “It’s abject poverty we’re dealing Volunteer Shabab Islam, a student at GAMS Tech Magnet School, helps out at St. Mary’s Outreach Giving Day on Friday. with,” she said. Mannix Hall is located on the St. Mary’s Church campus on South Street. The church was closed by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York over the summer, despite a spirited campaign by parishioners to keep the church open. Head Start of Orange County now occupies the building. St. Mary’s Parish was merged with WWW.MIDHUDSONTIMES.COM St. Patrick’s Parish as part of the Archdiocese’s Making All Things New restructuring initiative. However, St. Mary’s Outreach was permitted to remain open because of its services to the community. “We’re still kicking,” Allen said Friday. The outreach distributes approximately 150 tons of food, clothing, house Continued on page 26