On Tuesday, official petitions were submitted to dissolve the Village of Spring Valley, marking a major step toward potentially eliminating the village government. If the effort moves forward, the issue will appear on the ballot in the upcoming general election this November, giving voters the final say.
The petitions, submitted by a group of residents advocating for dissolution, will now be reviewed by the Village Clerk to verify the authenticity and validity of the signatures. This includes confirming that each signature belongs to a registered village voter and meets the requirements outlined under New York State law.
Under Article 17-A of the General Municipal Law, once a sufficient number of valid signatures are certified, the village is required to schedule a referendum. If a majority of voters approve the measure, the village must then create and adopt a formal dissolution plan. This plan outlines how essential services such as police, sanitation, zoning, and public works will be transferred—most likely to the Towns of Ramapo and Clarkstown. The dissolution process includes public hearings and can take up to two years to complete.
Supporters of the move say dissolving the village would cut down on taxes, eliminate redundant services, and improve efficiency by consolidating functions under one town government. Opponents, however, warn that such a change could result in reduced representation for the community, potential disruption to local services, and the loss of Spring Valley’s unique identity.
If it proceeds, Spring Valley would become the latest village in Rockland County to dissolve. The most recent case was the Village of South Nyack, where residents voted in favor of dissolution in December 2020. That village officially dissolved on April 1, 2022, with the Town of Orangetown assuming all municipal responsibilities.
With a population of around 33,000, Spring Valley is one of the largest villages in New York State. The coming weeks will determine whether the petition meets legal thresholds and whether voters will decide this November on a dramatic shift in how their community is governed.
Oh wow is this for real???
Over 30 years people tried to dissolve the village
What happened now that it’s working out?
I truly hope this finally succeeds. I’m paying thousands more in taxes and getting zero more than my Monsey neighbor. There’s no reason for this village any longer.
I moved away from SV
It’s cursed village including the police department
Uninformed residents should realize that their total property taxes will not necessarily decrease from what they’re paying now.
Once the village is dissolved, the residents have an additional tax levy to pay up all the debt that was accumulated by the Village over the years!
It’sthan high time to stop accumulating more debt. ITs sad enough what’s going on there. Other than a few a people taking home paychecks and benefits there is no reason for this village to be open.
When was this petition initiated and by whom? I live in SV and heard nothing about this till today.
Yes they collected signatures for a while on a low key status
I made some research, it sounds like the process is very easy,
Since the people who filled it claim that they have enough valid signatures there is no way the village clerk can fight it.
Let’s wait and see what happens