Most homeowners received their school tax bills in the mail today. Most people probably are not very happy. Many have seen their school tax bills increase by $300 to over $600 a year. The town is not responsible for school taxes. The school districts are independent of the town. We are a tax collector for the schools and guarantee the school districts 100% of the taxes --whether you pay them or not. (If you don't pay the taxes the town is eventually able to take ownership of your property, however).
In fairness to the school districts -- most school districts in Greenburgh had small tax hikes this year. The reason why the school taxes went up so much is because the NY State Legislature (thanks to the bad economy) reduced STAR and ENHANCED STAR benefits.
In the late 1990s the State started the STAR program--school tax relief program.The STAR program was designed to reduce residential school taxes. The legislature recognized the fact that the size of a homeowner's school tax has grown by multiples over the years and is, in fact, one of the homeowner's largest expenses, second only to mortgage interest. In order to provide some relief to New York State's homeowners, the STAR program was enacted. There are two STAR programs in effect - one for seniors over the age of 65 who are on fixed incomes and those who are under the age of 65.
The town has compiled a comparison of the impact, by community, of the STAR reductions. If you would like a copy please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com
PAUL FEINER
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13 comments:
"If you would like a copy please e mail me ..."
This is not appropriate. It is also inefficient. Post it on the town's webpage.
Could it be possible that your favorite dept. head made another innocent mistake .
A come on Feiner tell us the truth She made another mistake.
More money for a piss poor school district
The school districts are independent of the town.
Glad you agree so can you stop taxing us to school kids?
Question why doesn"t the town take over the school district and control the spending ? Soon we will be on the Ranking of " Most Taxed Town". Thanks Paul for all you support
9:51, There are so many things wrong with your comment.
What planet do you live on?
Stop giving tax breaks and get tougher with tax certs. The more you give back the more we have to pay...it's like double taxation! While the Town has no authority over the school district it could do more to partner with them and communicate with them to work towards lower taxes and more productivity. We have such a small percentage of resident children attending our public schools because they are so lousy. Where is all this money going? We could send these kids to private schools for less money. Maybe we should shut down the school system and just send the kids to better private schools. It's cheaper & they'll get a better education.
Dear Anonymous 9/8/09 4:02 PM:
Would you be upset to learn that since January 1, 2009 the Town Board has approved tax certs that will reduce assessed values in the Town by $4 million? $5 million? $6 million? $7 million?
And if you happen to own property in unincorporated Greenburgh, while the dollar impact is lower, the percent decline is larger than for the entire Town.
Read'em and weep.
I doubt that the incredible increase in our school tax is due to the Star program. Stop blaming mismanagement on others. Someone should check the work coming out of the assessors office. I think this is yet another mistake on their part and once again we're paying for it!
I doubt that the incredible increase in our school tax is due to the Star program. Stop blaming mismanagement on others. Someone should check the work coming out of the assessors office. I think this is yet another mistake on their part and once again we're paying for it!
We all know that the refuses to do the job that she was hired for.
In the beginning she was taking care of private business with a now retired man now she got so used to not working that she collects a paycheck for doing nothing.
She has made many mistakes that have cost the taxpayers dearly.
Just imagine the mistakes that have not been bought out to the public yet.
MAybe our fired comptroller will one day real soon shed light to some others that he found.
See comment under Star Reductions by Community at 8:41 PM
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