08/29/2026
To the residents of the Village of Walton:
PLEASE READ THE WHOLE MESSAGE.....
As I reflect on more than a year and a half serving as your Mayor, I am proud of the progress we have made and encouraged by what lies ahead. Walton has challenges, but it also has something stronger: people who care, people who volunteer, and people who are willing to work together for a better community.
My goal for the remainder of my time in office is straightforward: continue repairing, upgrading, and responsibly maintaining the community assets we already have while pursuing the funding and partnerships needed to build for the future. That includes our streets, sidewalks, water and sewer systems, parks, pools, recreation programs, public-safety resources, signage, and the less-visible infrastructure that keeps the Village functioning every day.
Visible progress powered by community:
Austin Lincoln Park is one of the clearest examples of what can happen when Walton works together. The renewed activity there has not been driven primarily by taxpayer dollars. The great majority of the improvements have been made possible through donated services, volunteer organizations, fundraising, and residents who stepped forward because they wanted something better for Walton. The Village's direct contribution has largely been limited to smaller repairs and support.
The results matter. Austin Lincoln has been more active during the past two years than at any time I can remember in the last fifteen. Our pool, arts and crafts, and basketball programs were tremendous successes this summer, serving many children and families. More young people are riding bikes, playing, participating, and spending time in positive activities. These are not merely extras. They are investments in the health, pride, and future of our community.
Freedom Fest is another example. It is supported through fundraising, volunteer service, and people who believe Walton deserves events that bring neighbors together. These efforts create memories for local families while attracting visitors who support our businesses and experience what Walton has to offer.
Why quality of life is an economic strategy:
Parks, recreation, events, an active downtown, and welcoming public spaces are all part of a larger plan. When Walton looks cared for and offers things for families to enjoy, people are more likely to visit, invest, purchase homes, improve properties, open businesses, and stay here. That strengthens our tax base and helps spread the cost of Village services across more households and businesses.
The opening of our streets to lawful ATV and side-by-side use has also created a distinct attraction. The activity may not be visible to every resident every day, but riders are visiting, spending money, and helping establish Walton as a destination. The goal is to keep building connections between recreation, Delaware Street businesses, local services, and the wider region in a safe and responsible way.
If a community stops investing in itself, the burden eventually falls on fewer taxpayers, properties decline, and businesses leave. Our direction must be the opposite: create reasons to come here, reasons to stay, and reasons to believe in Walton.
The financial reality behind Village services:
Walton operates with a general budget of roughly $1.5 million, plus or minus depending on the year and the funds involved. That budget must first cover payroll, employee benefits, insurance, fuel, utilities, contractual obligations, public safety, and the basic cost of keeping services running. What remains must cover materials, repairs, replacements, and projects. We operate lean, and unexpected expenses can quickly change the year's plans.
Many of the most expensive Village assets are underground or otherwise out of sight. Water mains, sewer lines, valves, pumps, electrical components, pool equipment, drainage systems, and buried fixtures do not draw attention until they break. A water-main break, failed pipe, sewer problem, pool leak, damaged street section, or missing safety sign cannot simply be ignored. These repairs can cost tens of thousands of dollars and often must be addressed immediately.
The costs taxpayers rarely see:
Another major expense is litigation and legal compliance. Whether the Village is ultimately right or wrong, responding to a lawsuit costs taxpayers money. Retaining counsel, gathering and reviewing records, responding to filings, and preparing a defense can easily require an initial commitment of approximately $10,000 before a case has truly begun. The Village must plan responsibly for potential claims and legal obligations, even though those dollars do not produce a new playground, sidewalk, or paved street.
Municipal projects are also governed by requirements that do not normally apply to a homeowner completing private work. Covered public-work contracts are subject to New York State prevailing-wage requirements, along with applicable bidding, contractor-registration, insurance, documentation, and procurement rules. These safeguards exist because public money is being spent, but they also mean the Village often cannot complete a contracted project for the price a private citizen might expect.
Fairness and the responsible use of public resources:
The Village must use tax dollars, public equipment, materials, and employee time for legitimate public purposes and in a manner that treats residents fairly. Article VIII, Section 1 of the New York State Constitution generally prohibits municipalities from giving public money or property to benefit a private individual.
That is why the Village cannot simply repair one person's private sidewalk, deliver millings to private property, or use Village labor and equipment for an individual favor. Even when a request seems small and we would like to help, doing so may be unlawful and would create an obligation or expectation to provide the same benefit to everyone.
When the Village must say no to an individual request, it is not because we do not care. It is because public resources belong to everyone. Our duty is to protect the taxpayers and make decisions that benefit the community as a whole.
Our priorities moving forward:
There is much more to do. I want better streets, safer and more accessible sidewalks, dependable water and sewer infrastructure, well-maintained parks, strong recreation programs, improved public spaces, and continued attention to the needs of our police, DPW, employees, families, seniors, and businesses.
We will continue pursuing grants, partnerships, volunteer support, and outside funding wherever possible.
Grant work is not quick: applications, engineering, legal review, environmental requirements, approvals, and reimbursement schedules can take months or years. But that work is happening, and it remains one of the best ways to accomplish major improvements without placing the entire burden on local property taxpayers.
We will also keep prioritizing maintenance. Taking care of what we own is usually less expensive than allowing it to fail.
Not every improvement will happen at once, and not every need can be met in a single budget year, but steady, disciplined progress is still progress.
A hopeful future for Walton:
I believe in Walton.
I believe we can honor the practical realities of a small municipal budget while still thinking bigger about what our Village can become. We can improve our infrastructure, strengthen our downtown, support our families, expand recreation, attract visitors and investment, and build a tax base capable of sustaining the services our residents deserve.
That future will not be created by Village government alone. It will take residents, businesses, nonprofit organizations, volunteers, employees, neighboring communities, and every person willing to contribute an idea, an hour, a skill, or a word of encouragement.
Let us remain positive, patient, and persistent. Let us acknowledge our challenges without allowing them to define us. The progress already underway proves what Walton can accomplish when we work together. I will continue doing everything within my authority to seek funding, protect taxpayer dollars, maintain our essential services, and move this Village forward for as long as I have the privilege of serving as your Mayor.
Keep the faith. Keep hope. Keep your head up. Walton's best days do not have to be behind us—we can build them together.
Bjorn Eilertsen, Mayor
“Amat Victoria Curam”
