Let’s set the record straight.

The town’s financial position is strong and growing stronger. Since taking office, Kevin Hansan and the Democratic team have more than tripled the unassigned fund balance [1], and overseen widespread growth in property value [2] – all while holding the line on property taxes and keeping them under the 2% state cap [3] every year. In 2024, revenues exceeded projections while spending came in under budget [4, 5]. The best metrics of good financial management are a fund balance and budgets that stay under the 2% tax cap – every single year in office, we’ve kept those two metrics strong.

We’ve gotten this done, in part, by revitalizing our business district and delivering the vibrant Scotts Corners Pound Ridge residents enjoyed, with thriving restaurants and small businesses. Relying primarily on outside funding, we helped transform Scotts Corners while holding the line on taxes, resulting in a business district for residents to enjoy that will help further increase property values for years to come.

Sources:

[1] The unassigned fund balance grew from from $456,382 in 2017 to $1,562,499 in 2024.

“2017 Financial Statements & 2017 Annual Financial Report,”Town of Pound Ridge, https://www.townofpoundridge.com/finance/2017-financial-statements-2017-annual-financial-report

“2024 Financial Statements & 2024 Annual Financial Report, Town of Pound Ridge, https://www.townofpoundridge.com/finance/2024-financial-statements-2024-annual-financial-report

[2] In the last year, Pound Ridge property values increased by 5.3%, compared with 3.5% in Westchester County overall, according to the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI).

“10576 Housing Market,” Zillow, https://www.zillow.com/home-values/61871/pound-ridge-ny-10576/

“Westchester County, NY,” Zillow, https://www.zillow.com/home-values/3148/westchester-county-ny/

[3] “Property Tax Cap: Local Government Tax Cap Presentation,” Office of the State Comptroller, https://www.osc.ny.gov/files/local-government/property-tax-cap/pdf/formula.pdf

[4] PKF O’Connor Davies, “Report to the Town Board,” https://www.townofpoundridge.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/town_board/meeting/packets/40610/09.16.2025_pkfod_presentation.pdf

[5] “Financial Statements and Supplementary Information: Year Ended December 31, 2024,” Town of Pound Ridge, https://www.townofpoundridge.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/finance/page/41048/final_2024_town_of_pound_ridge_fs.pdf

As elected officials, we put the safety of our community first. That’s why we’ll always fight for clean water in Scotts Corners. It’s a public health issue and an economic issue, and we’re tackling it head-on.

When PFAS was found in the water in Scotts Corners, we acted. We secured a $7.6 million+ grant, the largest in town history [1], to bring in clean water from Connecticut without burdening taxpayers. Without clean water, Pound Ridge would lose restaurants and small businesses and fail to attract more – because restaurants and other businesses need clean water to survive, and they can’t afford to pay for it individually. 

Meanwhile, Kevin’s opponent for Town Supervisor actually wrote a letter to New York State OPPOSING the $7.6M+ grant for our town [2] – outside funding we need to keep our business district alive — and organized a petition to block water district formation [3]. Kevin’s opponents have also supported a lawsuit to stop the state from funding our clean water solution [4].

Frankly, we can’t fathom a reason to oppose a clean water source that comes at no cost to Pound Ridge taxpayers and delivers clean water to businesses that need it.

This is more than just an economic issue – it’s a matter of public health. The most important job of any public servant is to protect the health and safety of their constituents, and we take that role seriously.

By trying to block this crucial project, our opponents are blocking access to clean water. It’s hard to believe, but it’s the truth. In contrast, the Democratic team will ALWAYS stand up for public health, clean water, and the businesses and families of Pound Ridge.

Sources:

[1] “Pound Ridge Supervisor Kevin Hansan Joins the Weekly Update,” YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4hvjgNNKpw

[2] John D. McCown, Letter to NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation and NYS Department of Health, September 9, 2024

[3] “Special District Petition for Permissive Referendum,” July 26, 2024

[4] Donna P. Simons v. NYS EFC et al., Amended Verified Petition and Complaint, April 25, 2025

Our opponents have publicly questioned why Pound Ridge doesn’t have a bond rating like Bedford and Lewisboro do. It’s one of those things that sounds bad but ultimately… doesn’t matter. The reasons are simple:

• Pound Ridge’s debt is a fraction of Lewisboro’s ($10+ million) and Bedford’s ($42 million). You need a bond rating when you have high debt, and that’s not the case under our Democratic leadership.

• There are costs associated with getting a bond rating. The hypothetical scenarios the opposition talks about ignore that. Rather than paying consultants for a bond rating that might not save the town enough to recoup those costs, we’d rather direct public funds toward things that Pound Ridge residents actually want and need.

Instead of using taxpayer funds to secure a bond rating, we’ve successfully relied on grants to fund projects the town needs. We’ve secured more than $10 million in grants for clean water infrastructure, streetscape improvements, trail improvements, and much more. 

In one recent misleading ad, our opponents’ make an unsubstantiated claim about the cost of not using municipal bonds. They rely on scare tactics about bonds because the truth – that getting a bond rating would cost taxpayers money, and that we’ve successfully secured grants to fund projects we need – runs counter to their misleading hypothetical narrative.

You may have heard our opponents claim that the town is behind on annual audit requirements – this is not true. The town’s independent auditors presented the 2024 review at a September Town Board meeting, reporting a clean audit [1], and the town is up to date in required reporting to the State Comptroller’s office [2].

Our opponents talk about “years of delayed audits,” as if we ignored a problem, but that’s just not so. The town fell behind on financial reporting during the pandemic, when our one-person finance department was charged with transitioning operations online to keep essential services running. We identified the problem and worked to correct it, but because municipal auditors operate on a fixed calendar, rapid catch-up wasn’t possible. This was a one-time problem with a multi-year fix.

Real leaders face their problems head-on, make tough decisions, and learn from past mistakes, and we’ve done just that. The pandemic was a challenge for our town in so many ways – there’s no sugarcoating it – and we made the tough decision to not hire more staff at an uncertain time when increasing spending would have been especially risky.

We’re pleased to be caught up on annual audits and required reporting. We’re even more pleased that the recently completed audit proves what we already knew — that the town is in excellent financial shape.

Sources:

[1] “Financial Statements and Supplementary Information: Year Ended December 31, 2024,” Town of Pound Ridge, https://www.townofpoundridge.com/sites/default/files/fileattachments/finance/page/41048/final_2024_town_of_pound_ridge_fs.pdf

[2] “Annual Financial Report (AFR) Filing Status,” Office of the New York State Comptroller, https://www.osc.ny.gov/local-government/required-reporting/annual-financial-report-afr-filing-status

The New York State Comptroller’s 2024 Fiscal Stress Monitoring Report granted Pound Ridge the best possible rating for fiscal health, crediting the town’s consistent operating surpluses, healthy cash reserves, and low debt. In short – the state’s fiscal watchdog took a close look at our finances, and we came out strong. 

The Comptroller’s recent audit report [2] offered important advice for best practices with town finances and fiscal practices, and we’ve taken those recommendations seriously as we modernize our recordkeeping and reporting processes. Their findings were primarily procedural, focused on issues like how we manage purchasing records and organize backup documentation. We had already implemented most of their recommendations by the time the report was issued, and we’re taking the necessary steps to meet the remaining few they outlined [3]. 

Our opponents are using these findings to distract from the truth of the town’s sound financial footing, growing financial reserves, and overall fiscal health. In a small town like ours, fiscal responsibility and transparency are paramount. We’re proud of our record on both fronts, and the State Comptroller’s recent report demonstrates the strong financial position of Pound Ridge.

Sources:

[1] “New York State Comptroller’s 2024 Fiscal Stress Report,” Town of Pound Ridge, https://www.townofpoundridge.com/finance/nys-comptrollers-office-2024-fiscal-stress-report

[2] “OSC report regarding procurement and claims auditing published,” Town of Pound Ridge, https://www.townofpoundridge.com/townclerk/osc-report-regarding-procurement-and-claims-auditing-published

[3] Town Supervisor Kevin C. Hansan, Letter to Residents, August 6, 2025

Located between the Town Park and the Historic Hamlet, the 22-acre parcel at 7 Old Pound Road could have been turned over to developers for a condo development before we stepped in to preserve the town's character and purchased the property at an extraordinarily low price. The residents of Pound Ridge don’t want massive developments or stoplights – they want the quaint town we know and love. So when that character was under threat, we acted.

You’re going to hear our opponents lie about this – made-up numbers and nonsense narratives about engineering costs and operating losses. The truth? They’re telling a misleading story because they’re desperate. We’re proud of our record, and we’re proud of this purchase, which demonstrates our investment in public resources and public spaces. This purchase wasn’t just some business venture; it was an important opportunity to preserve the town we love and stave off overdevelopment.

Pound Ridge’s government is more transparent than ever before.

The Supervisor sends a weekly newsletter to all interested members of the public. The newsletter is also posted on the town website here, where it can be viewed by anyone [1]. Town Board Member Dan Paschkes, a fierce advocate for transparent government, led the charge for livestreamed Town Board meetings long before anyone had ever heard of Zoom – because every resident should be allowed and encouraged to participate in government. We post searchable, easily accessible minutes of every Town Board meeting in addition to videos.

Most of all, our doors are always open. Kevin is available to any and every resident who wants to talk, share their concerns, and make their voice heard. The rest of our leaders are no different. In a small, close-knit town like ours, every voice can and must be heard. Make yours heard – reach out to Kevin himself anytime at kevin.hansan@gmail.com. 

The Pound Ridge Party, despite claiming to run on transparency, can’t help but mislead voters again and again. The latest example is John McCown’s public claim in the Recorder that he’s never engaged in litigation against a Town Board member – despite a public, revenge-based lawsuit against Town Board Diane Briggs in 2023 [2].

After the 2023 election, McCown filed a lawsuit against Board Member Diane Briggs because, two months earlier, she had commented on a social media post about his campaign of misinformation. Rather than respond to the post with facts, he tried to retaliate through the courts in an effort to silence her voice – twice. The lawsuit was dismissed by the judge based squarely on the law, and the court declined to hear an appeal. Twice, the judiciary confirmed his accusations had no merit. Superfluous lawsuits like this waste taxpayer money and elected officials’ time that would be far better spent addressing the actual needs of Pound Ridge residents. That’s what we were elected to do, and that’s what we’ll continue to do every day – no matter what misinformation and distractions our opponents throw our way.

It doesn’t end there, unfortunately. Between 2020 and 2022, John McCown repeatedly urged the Town Board to spend tens of thousands of dollars to hire a consultant to evaluate his proposal for a property tax reassessment until finally the Town Attorney stated publicly that such a scheme would be illegal [3]. Our opponents love to talk, usually misleadingly, about how we spend money on unnecessary projects or improvements. But they’re the ones wasting the town’s money – your money – on frivolous lawsuits, pointless legal battles and vanity projects. We’ve had enough.

Sources:

[1] “Updates from the Supervisor,” Town of Pound Ridge, https://www.townofpoundridge.com/supervisor/updates-supervisor

[2] John D. McCown v Diane Briggs, Index no. SC002745-23/NR

[3] “Minutes of the Meeting of the Town Board,” April 5, 2022, https://ecode360.com/documents/PO0893/public/745228209.pdf