11/04/2023
News you can use from Mayor Brian Pugh, Croton on Hudson
Dear Neighbors:
As we approach the first weekend of early voting, I would like to remind Croton-on-Hudson voters about an important item on the ballot: the referendum on the Volunteer Fire Department Length of Service Award Program (“LOSAP”)
Volunteer firefighters put their lives on the line every day to protect our community, and they deserve to be recognized for their service. For this reason, and to support the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters, LOSAP was approved by a referendum in Croton-on-Hudson in 2003.
In June of this year, the Board of Trustees voted to increase the maximum years of service credit under the program from 20 years to 40 years and to increase the monthly service award under the program from $20 to $30. This allows firefighters serving more than 20 years to continue to accrue credits for LOSAP and adjusts LOSAP payments to reflect the increased cost of living in the years since the program was established. Our LOSAP plan administrator provided an actuarial estimate that requires a $220,000 appropriation by the Village in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
This increase is subject to a permissive referendum which is on this year’s ballot.
Out of gratitude for our firefighters and appreciation of the need to retain these dedicated citizen first responders, I will be voting yes. You can show your support for our firefighters by joining me in voting early for the referendum at our municipal building, where early voting is being held weekends 10 AM to 6 PM.
For information on the weekday schedule of voting or to look for other early voting sites, please visit: www.tinyurl.com/westchesterearlyvote2023
Brian Pugh, Mayor
