Civic Ambassadors Funding Facts Vol.2

Each week, the civic ambassadors at Bard follow and report on a new topic surrounding local and state funding. This week's funding fact:

The Finances Behind Town Board's Pursuit of the Red Hook Boat Club

On July 15, the Red Hook Town Board held a meeting where they voted to proceed with eminent domain and the acquisition of the Red Hook Boat Club property in a 3-2 vote. The Town intends to convert it into a public waterfront park. This process has been costly: by August, the Town of Red Hook had spent $108,549 in legal and planning bills. Initially, the town set aside $65,000 for legal bills, but the budget has since increased to $125,000. A considerable portion of the budget was spent on municipal attorneys fees, which can go up to about $400 in New York State. To follow along, you can sign up for updates from The Daily Catch, a non-profit digital newspaper for the Upstate New York towns of Red Hook and Rhinebeck.

Post Date: 10-17-2025