For more than a decade, the Village of Ellenville has grappled with the question of dissolving. Having researched municipal governance as a professional planner and observed this debate closely for the past two years, I believe that dissolution is not the answer. In fact, the implications of such a move could be far more profound than many anticipate.

Let's begin by evaluating the implications for Town residents. Should the Village dissolve, its responsibilities inevitably fall on the Town's shoulders. To illustrate, if the Village police were to disband during dissolution, would Ulster Heights' residents be prepared to shoulder pension obligations for retired village police? Are residents of Dairyland prepared to tackle the Village's accumulated debts or state and federal contract obligations?

Some may argue in favor of the Town establishing a tax district exclusive to the Village. However, this would merely localize the Village's existing challenges, while simultaneously diminishing the residents' agency over their affairs.

There's a misconception that village dissolution might lead to tax reductions, but that's overly optimistic. Over the years, the Village, just like many other New York State municipalities, has accrued debts funding various capital projects. These debts payments won't vanish with the village. Moreover, the Village employs dedicated staff overseeing essential services like water supply, sewer management, code enforcement, and police services. Many of these obligations can't be simply sidestepped. Any perceived savings likely would be through service cutbacks to police or street maintenance. Those cuts could happen whether or not the Village exists, but are not particularly palatable to a village resident.

If the goal is genuinely to reduce taxes through service reduction, I suspect a Village resident would rather do that as a voice among 4,000 instead of as a voice among 14,000. If the police must be reduced, I think a Green Acres resident would want to discuss that with a neighbor instead of someone in Kerhonkson who doesn't get the police services anyway.

This isn't a blanket criticism of municipal consolidation. The merger of Ellenville and Wawarsing courts offers an active example of attempts to figure out how to share services. Collaborative efforts like coordinated park management underscore the benefits of synergy. Presumably few are upset that the water systems share a vital link.

Every village resident is also a town resident. And while I wouldn't champion the establishment of a new village in the absence of Ellenville, it's crucial to remember that this Village, since 1856, has shaped decisions around land use, economic ventures, conservation, and more. The urban village's existence, offering specialized services distinct from its surrounding rural backdrop, cannot be abruptly terminated without profound ramifications for everyone.

We needn't rely solely on my observations. The decade-old “Report of the Ellenville Government Study Committee on Village Dissolution” (which can be found here: https://shorturl.at/hILM2), steered by local leaders, echoes similar sentiments. As we contemplate the future of our community, it's imperative that our efforts accentuate the combined strengths of the Village and Town, rather than attempting to erase one from the equation.

Paul Lozito is a subscriber who lives in Ellenville, NY.