This is a Board-Initiated Dissolution process. The Village Board of Trustees voted to explore the option of dissolution of the Village government, which would result in the absorption of governance and services by the Towns of Clarkstown and Ramapo. The development of a Village Dissolution Plan will provide information regarding the probable impact of a potential dissolution on issues ranging from continuity of governance, to tax rates, to service delivery. Once the Draft Plan has been completed, it will be available for both the Board and Village residents to consider.

Should the Board decide to accept the Plan, thereby advancing the dissolution process, Village residents will have the opportunity to vote on whether or not to dissolve the Village in a referendum.

In accordance with New York General Municipal Law (GML) Article 17-A §774, the Board of Trustees of the Village is required to prepare a Dissolution Plan under a Board initiated process. As mandated by Article 17-A, the Plan will include the following information:

1. The name of the local government entity to be dissolved.
2. The territorial boundaries of the entity.
3. The type and/or class of the entity.
4. A fiscal estimate of the cost of dissolution.
5. The entity’s assets, including but not limited to real and personal property, and the fair value thereof in current money of the United States.
6. Any plan for the transfer or elimination of public employees.
7. The entity’s liabilities and indebtedness, bonded and otherwise, and the fair value thereof in current money of the United States.
8. Any agreements entered into with the Town in which the entity is situated in order to carry out the dissolution.
9. The manner and means by which the residents of the entity will continue to be furnished municipal services following the entity’s dissolution.
10. Terms for the disposition of the entity’s assets and the disposition of its liabilities and indebtedness, including the levy and collection of the necessary taxes and assessments therefore.
11. Findings as to whether any local laws, ordinances, rules or regulations of the entity shall remain in effect after the effective date of the dissolution or shall remain in effect for a period of time other than as provided by GML Article 17-A §789.
12. The effective date of the dissolution.
13. The time and place or places for a public hearing or hearings on the proposed dissolution plan.
14. Any other matter desirable or necessary to carry out the dissolution.

The Village Dissolution Plan will also provide information regarding the probable impact of a potential dissolution on issues ranging from continuity of governance, to tax rates, to service delivery.

Upon completion of a Board Initiated Dissolution Plan, the Village Board has to endorse (not adopt or accept) the Plan and set a date for a public hearing. After the public hearing, the Village Board has the ability to amend the Plan and move it towards a public referendum, or stop the dissolution process.

Please refer to the following chart as provided by the NYS Department of State.

General Municipal Law (GML) Article 17-A lays out the legal process for a Board initiated dissolution. In accordance with Article 17-A, the Village Board must accept by resolution the Village Dissolution Plan in order to further the dissolution process. To learn about the full process of a Board initiated dissolution, click HERE.

The Towns of Clarkstown and Ramapo will have no vote in the Village’s dissolution process. This is considered a local government decision. Only Village residents that are legally registered to vote in the Village of Spring Valley are eligible participate in the referendum and vote.

Check this website periodically for updates. Information should also be available on the Village’s website.

Yes. Please use THIS LINK, then select “Villages Dissolved Since 1900” to access the New York State Department of State’s list of dissolved villages.

Should the residents of the Village vote to dissolve the Village, there will no longer be a Village government. As such, services and governance will be provided by the Towns.

If the Village does not vote to dissolve, governance and service delivery remain the same as it is today.

Dissolution does not affect school or county taxes.

We are unaware of the existence of any statewide historical research on the post dissolution impact on taxes for village and town residents. However, each Village that has dissolved is required to have developed a dissolution plan that details the projected impact on Village and Town tax rates as well as identifies the anticipated Citizen’s Empowerment Tax Credit. Please feel free to peruse two samples at:

Village of South Nyack Dissolution Plan 

Village of Mastic Beach Dissolution Plan 

The Rockefeller Institute of Government has prepared a basic comparative look at the Village Dissolution in Ohio and New York which can be found HERE.

No, all Village debt and obligations would remail the responsibility of the former Village residents for repayment.