Please feel free to post your comments about issues of concern.
VETERANS DAY TODAY
TOWN BOARD BUDGET REVIEW STARTS TOMORROW AFTERNOON 3:45 PM
HOW CAN WE CUT THE SIZE OF THE TAX HIKE?
WEDNESDAY EVENING, TOWN BOARD MEETING
Monday, November 12, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
GUEST COMMENTARY ON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BY ROBERT RENINGER
Paul,
I have read and carefully reviewed your memo to Mark Stellato about doing part of the Comprehensive Plan Study in house.
Before any substantial work is done on an updated Comprehensive Plan, the Town must first update the 1980 Zoning Ordinance.
On December 11, 2006 the Town entered into a contract with BFJ Planning to assist the Greenburgh Planning Department in proposing updates to the 1980 Zoning Ordinance at an already budgeted cost of $105,000.
On March 28, 2007, the Town Board established an in house Zoning Code Revision Committee. Greenburgh taxpayers were told that this project would be completed before a new Comprehensive Plan was proposed. I understand that NYS Town Law actually requires that the existing Zoning Ordinance be completely updated before a Town can adopt a revised or updated Comprehensive Plan.
Councilperson Sheehan was appointed Chairman of the Zoning Code Revision Committee. Has the Committee submitted any reports ? If not, the Town Board should place a high priority on getting recommendation from the Zoning Code Revision Committee. Proposed revisions to the existing Zoning Ordinance would very likely be the nucleus for an updated Comprehensive Plan.
I recommend that, before the Town burdens Greenburgh taxpayers with any additional costs for outside consultants, the Town Board should evaluate and adopt, as appropriate, the recommendations of the Zoning Code Revision Committee.
I have not yet completed my review of the 2008 proposed tentative budget. However, it is readily apparent that, if the Town needs any consulting services during 2008, priority should be given to implementing better financial and accounting controls. There are many unanswered questions concerning the decision by the four members of the Town Council to override the previous conservative spending policy of the Town Supervisor.
I believe that Greenburgh taxpayers would support expenditures for this type of consulting services. A Town Financial Plan is needed much more urgently than a Comprehensive Plan. I understands that Ferrandino Associates does not specialize in financial and accounting consulting.
Please consider the financial needs of Greenburgh residents. As noted repeatedly in the local press, many Senior Citizen taxpayers can no longer afford to live in the Westchester Towns which they financially supported for many, many years. This fact is especially true in the Town of Greenburgh.
Robert F. Reninger
I have read and carefully reviewed your memo to Mark Stellato about doing part of the Comprehensive Plan Study in house.
Before any substantial work is done on an updated Comprehensive Plan, the Town must first update the 1980 Zoning Ordinance.
On December 11, 2006 the Town entered into a contract with BFJ Planning to assist the Greenburgh Planning Department in proposing updates to the 1980 Zoning Ordinance at an already budgeted cost of $105,000.
On March 28, 2007, the Town Board established an in house Zoning Code Revision Committee. Greenburgh taxpayers were told that this project would be completed before a new Comprehensive Plan was proposed. I understand that NYS Town Law actually requires that the existing Zoning Ordinance be completely updated before a Town can adopt a revised or updated Comprehensive Plan.
Councilperson Sheehan was appointed Chairman of the Zoning Code Revision Committee. Has the Committee submitted any reports ? If not, the Town Board should place a high priority on getting recommendation from the Zoning Code Revision Committee. Proposed revisions to the existing Zoning Ordinance would very likely be the nucleus for an updated Comprehensive Plan.
I recommend that, before the Town burdens Greenburgh taxpayers with any additional costs for outside consultants, the Town Board should evaluate and adopt, as appropriate, the recommendations of the Zoning Code Revision Committee.
I have not yet completed my review of the 2008 proposed tentative budget. However, it is readily apparent that, if the Town needs any consulting services during 2008, priority should be given to implementing better financial and accounting controls. There are many unanswered questions concerning the decision by the four members of the Town Council to override the previous conservative spending policy of the Town Supervisor.
I believe that Greenburgh taxpayers would support expenditures for this type of consulting services. A Town Financial Plan is needed much more urgently than a Comprehensive Plan. I understands that Ferrandino Associates does not specialize in financial and accounting consulting.
Please consider the financial needs of Greenburgh residents. As noted repeatedly in the local press, many Senior Citizen taxpayers can no longer afford to live in the Westchester Towns which they financially supported for many, many years. This fact is especially true in the Town of Greenburgh.
Robert F. Reninger
Friday, November 09, 2007
The Town of Greenburgh Police Department will hold a press conference / equipment demonstration to unveil the Departments new Segway i2 on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at 11:00am at the Hartsdale Train Station.
The Segway personal transporter, equipped with a police package, will be deployed for patrol use on community policing posts within the Town of Greenburgh and will be the first of its kind in Westchester County.
This is a donation!
Event: Greenburgh Police Department unveils new patrol equipment
Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Time: 11:00am
Place: Hartsdale Train Station located on E. Hartsdale Avenue.
The Segway personal transporter, equipped with a police package, will be deployed for patrol use on community policing posts within the Town of Greenburgh and will be the first of its kind in Westchester County.
This is a donation!
Event: Greenburgh Police Department unveils new patrol equipment
Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Time: 11:00am
Place: Hartsdale Train Station located on E. Hartsdale Avenue.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MEMO--CAN WE AFFORD $400,000?
This is a copy of a memo I sent to Mark Stellato, Commissioner of Planning earlier today re: comprehensive plan. The question is this: Can we afford to spend $400,000 on a comprehensive plan.
Another point: We are projecting that it will be difficult to keep tax hikes in unincorporated Greenburgh BELOW a 10% tax hike in 2009. The library construction borrowing costs will be increasing--we're borrowing an additional $7 million in 2008 for the library ($600-$700,000 extra in debt service that we will be paying for).
If we keep adding expenses to the costs of government in 2008 - we will definitely have a double digit tax hike in 2009. If we don't watch ourselves we're going to force people out of Greenburgh.
We need to prioritize spending.
Mark:
During the budget discussions I am sure that the proposed comprehensive plan will be discussed. As I indicated, the $405,000 cost is too expensive and needs to be modified or postponed.
When you meet with the Town Board I will ask you to provide Board members with an analysis as to what aspects of the plan you can do in house. My preliminary analysis indicates that we could save substantial dollars by doing the community outreach in house --instead of paying high consultant fees. There is probably additional work that can also be done in house, at a savings to the taxpayers.
Please review each aspect of the proposed plan and advise if your dept (or other depts) can do the work in house.
Also--can you restructure the proposed plan into segments--and advise the board --what studies do we need immediately, what parts of the plan are not as essential.
I am writing you this note in advance so you have time to prepare...
PAUL FEINER
EXAMPLES OF SPENDING IN THE PROPOSED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT COULD BE DONE IN HOUSE -NOT BY EXPENSIVE CONSULTANTS:
CPSC MEETINGS $19,500
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, ISSUE FORMULATION AND COMMUNICATION $35,000
DATA COLLECTION: $34,410
(SURVEY ANALYSIS PLAN; MAILING LIST, SURVEY TABULATION, ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION, OUTREACH LOG, WEB SITE AND VISIONING DOCUMENTATION
DATA ANALYSIS: $61,440
Another point: We are projecting that it will be difficult to keep tax hikes in unincorporated Greenburgh BELOW a 10% tax hike in 2009. The library construction borrowing costs will be increasing--we're borrowing an additional $7 million in 2008 for the library ($600-$700,000 extra in debt service that we will be paying for).
If we keep adding expenses to the costs of government in 2008 - we will definitely have a double digit tax hike in 2009. If we don't watch ourselves we're going to force people out of Greenburgh.
We need to prioritize spending.
Mark:
During the budget discussions I am sure that the proposed comprehensive plan will be discussed. As I indicated, the $405,000 cost is too expensive and needs to be modified or postponed.
When you meet with the Town Board I will ask you to provide Board members with an analysis as to what aspects of the plan you can do in house. My preliminary analysis indicates that we could save substantial dollars by doing the community outreach in house --instead of paying high consultant fees. There is probably additional work that can also be done in house, at a savings to the taxpayers.
Please review each aspect of the proposed plan and advise if your dept (or other depts) can do the work in house.
Also--can you restructure the proposed plan into segments--and advise the board --what studies do we need immediately, what parts of the plan are not as essential.
I am writing you this note in advance so you have time to prepare...
PAUL FEINER
EXAMPLES OF SPENDING IN THE PROPOSED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT COULD BE DONE IN HOUSE -NOT BY EXPENSIVE CONSULTANTS:
CPSC MEETINGS $19,500
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, ISSUE FORMULATION AND COMMUNICATION $35,000
DATA COLLECTION: $34,410
(SURVEY ANALYSIS PLAN; MAILING LIST, SURVEY TABULATION, ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION, OUTREACH LOG, WEB SITE AND VISIONING DOCUMENTATION
DATA ANALYSIS: $61,440
Thursday, November 08, 2007
STATE GRANT TO STUDY POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF SHARING POLICE SERVICE WITH DOBBS FERRY
Greenburgh Police Chief John Kapica has been working with Dobbs Ferry officials. The village has approached the town and asked if the town would be interested in joining with the village to apply for state grant funds to explore the potential benefits of sharing police services. The initiative was taken by the village of Dobbs Ferry. The Dobbs Ferry Village Board will be voting on the resolution at their November 13th Board meeting. The Greenburgh Town Board will be voting on the resolution Wednesday night. We need to look for additional ways to cut costs, save taxpayers money and make government more efficient. I support this initiative.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
TAX CUTTING IDEA--RESURRECT TENNIS BUBBLE PROPOSAL
One of the big disappointments of 2006/2007 was the failure of the Town Board to approve an agreement that would have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the town in rent. The proposal would also have enabled the town to have our tennis courts reconstructed and resurfaced.
We're facing a big tax hike. Shouldn't this proposal be resurrected? It's a REVENUE PRODUCER. The following is from the town's web site: May 7,2005 (Supervisors Report):
BUBBLE OVER TENNIS COURTS...SIGNIFICANT REVENUE
Release Date: May 07, 2005
Sportimeis proposing that they be able to build, at their cost, a bubble over our tennis facility at AnthonyVeteranParkthat would be privatized during off peak seasons. The benefits to the town: guaranteed revenue---a March 2nd proposal (which is being revised) provides a guaranteed minimum fee of $125,000 to the town the first year to $271,645 the 15th year). During the term of the license the fee payable to the town will be 10% of gross receipts.
Sportime, at their expense, will pay for the bubble…RECONSTRUCT AND RESURFACE five existing hard tennis courts…construct 2 har tru tennis courts to replace the existing hard tennis courts…install outdoor lighting for the two newly constructed tennis courts, new drainage around the tennis courts and a sidewalk form the parking area to the clubhouse with connecting paths to the tennis courts. They will also, at their expense, resurface one outdoor basketball court and two handball courts and re-tile the existing tennis court restrooms.
THERE IS MORE…They will construct a clubhouse building at their expense of about 3600 square feet on two levels, to provide an indoor viewing patio, a lounge, locker rooms, a pro shop and reception and office facilities.
AND…THERE IS MORE………..Sportime will offer free programs for junior and adult residents---a pre scheduled tennis camp for junior residents featuring free introductory tennis instructions during December and winter breaks…free racquets for junior residents- a minimum of 500 free tennis racquets valued at $15,000 to be given away per year…one free introductory group tennis lesson to interested junior and adult residents (based on availability). And---membership in Sportime at $0 per month with a valid unicard. Residents of Greenburgh will have access to Sportime tennis facilities in Mamaroneck, Westchesterand in Manhattan.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO JANET LEFKOWITZ, Greenburgh’s outstanding Tennis Director for her hard work and dedication to the Town of Greenburgh. She deserves our appreciation for her commitment to making our tennis programs the best in America. This is the kind of initiative that makes financial sense. It’s prudent, responsible, enhances services without over-taxing residents.
PAUL FEINER
GreenburghTownSupervisor
We're facing a big tax hike. Shouldn't this proposal be resurrected? It's a REVENUE PRODUCER. The following is from the town's web site: May 7,2005 (Supervisors Report):
BUBBLE OVER TENNIS COURTS...SIGNIFICANT REVENUE
Release Date: May 07, 2005
Sportimeis proposing that they be able to build, at their cost, a bubble over our tennis facility at AnthonyVeteranParkthat would be privatized during off peak seasons. The benefits to the town: guaranteed revenue---a March 2nd proposal (which is being revised) provides a guaranteed minimum fee of $125,000 to the town the first year to $271,645 the 15th year). During the term of the license the fee payable to the town will be 10% of gross receipts.
Sportime, at their expense, will pay for the bubble…RECONSTRUCT AND RESURFACE five existing hard tennis courts…construct 2 har tru tennis courts to replace the existing hard tennis courts…install outdoor lighting for the two newly constructed tennis courts, new drainage around the tennis courts and a sidewalk form the parking area to the clubhouse with connecting paths to the tennis courts. They will also, at their expense, resurface one outdoor basketball court and two handball courts and re-tile the existing tennis court restrooms.
THERE IS MORE…They will construct a clubhouse building at their expense of about 3600 square feet on two levels, to provide an indoor viewing patio, a lounge, locker rooms, a pro shop and reception and office facilities.
AND…THERE IS MORE………..Sportime will offer free programs for junior and adult residents---a pre scheduled tennis camp for junior residents featuring free introductory tennis instructions during December and winter breaks…free racquets for junior residents- a minimum of 500 free tennis racquets valued at $15,000 to be given away per year…one free introductory group tennis lesson to interested junior and adult residents (based on availability). And---membership in Sportime at $0 per month with a valid unicard. Residents of Greenburgh will have access to Sportime tennis facilities in Mamaroneck, Westchesterand in Manhattan.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO JANET LEFKOWITZ, Greenburgh’s outstanding Tennis Director for her hard work and dedication to the Town of Greenburgh. She deserves our appreciation for her commitment to making our tennis programs the best in America. This is the kind of initiative that makes financial sense. It’s prudent, responsible, enhances services without over-taxing residents.
PAUL FEINER
GreenburghTownSupervisor
OPERATION CLEAN SWEEP- SIGNS TO BE REMOVED NEXT WEEK
The Greenburgh public works department will conduct our annual “Operation Clean Sweep” to remove all signs on poles, right of ways next week. Candidates who want to reuse their signs for future campaigns should remove them within the next few days. In addition to removing the campaign signs –garage sale signs, carnival signs, etc.. will also be removed during “Operation Clean Sweep”.
GREENBURGH VOTERS ELECT NEW TOWN CLERK, TWO NEW TOWN BD MEMBERS
Judith Beville was elected Greenburgh Town Clerk. Sonja Brown and Kevin Morgan will be the two new members of the Greenburgh Town Board --effective January 1, 2008. The following are the partial vote counts for all the elected positions in Greenburgh:
Office SUPERVISOR-GREENBURGH
PARTY 70 Districts out of 83 Reporting (84)% Votes Percent
90% of Absentee Ballots Counted
DEM PAUL J FEINER 7,537 75%
NON PAUL J FEINER 458 5%
PAUL J FEINER Totals 7,995 79%
IND SUZANNE BERGER 1,832 18%
WOR SUZANNE BERGER 248 2%
SUZANNE BERGER Totals 2,080 21%
Office Totals 10,075 100%
TURN-OUT 18%
Office TOWN CLERK - GREENBURGH
PARTY 70 Districts out of 83 Reporting (84)% Votes Percent
86% of Absentee Ballots Counted
DEM JUDITH A BEVILLE 6,858 73%
NON JUDITH A BEVILLE 295 3%
JUDITH A BEVILLE Totals 7,153 76%
IND ALFREDA WILLIAMS 2,206 24%
Office Totals 9,359 100%
TURN-OUT 17%
Office TOWN JUSTICE-GREENBURGH
VOTE-FOR-THREE
PARTY 70 Districts out of 83 Reporting (84)% Votes Percent
81% of Absentee Ballots Counted
DEM DORIS T FRIEDMAN 7,132 29%
IND DORIS T FRIEDMAN 1,194 5%
WOR DORIS T FRIEDMAN 293 1%
DORIS T FRIEDMAN Totals 8,619 35%
DEM SANDRA FORSTER 7,046 29%
IND SANDRA FORSTER 1,225 5%
WOR SANDRA FORSTER 289 1%
SANDRA FORSTER Totals 8,560 35%
DEM A GORDON-OLIVER 7,281 30%
Office Totals 24,460 100%
TURN-OUT 15%
Office MAYOR-VILL OF ARDSLEY
PARTY 3 Districts out of 4 Reporting (75)% Votes Percent
88% of Absentee Ballots Counted
DEM JAY LEON 466 81%
NON JONATHAN B LEVINE 110 19%
Office Totals 576 100%
TURN-OUT 18%
Office MAYOR-VILL OF DOBBS FERRY
PARTY 9 Districts out of 9 Reporting (100)% Votes Percent
89% of Absentee Ballots Counted
NON SCOTT SESKIN 746 52%
NON ALLEGRA F DENGLER 680 48%
Office Totals 1,426 100%
TURN-OUT 22%
Office COUNCILMAN - GREENBURGH
VOTE-FOR-TWO
PARTY 70 Districts out of 83 Reporting (84)% Votes Percent
85% of Absentee Ballots Counted
DEM KEVIN P MORGAN 7,037 39%
NON KEVIN P MORGAN 346 2%
KEVIN P MORGAN Totals 7,383 41%
DEM SONJA M BROWN 7,177 40%
WOR SONJA M BROWN 385 2%
SONJA M BROWN Totals 7,562 42%
IND EDDIE MAE BARNES 2,244 13%
WOR STEVE BASS 692 4%
Office Totals 17,881 100%
TURN-OUT 16%
Office TRUSTEE- VIL OF ARDSLEY
VOTE-FOR-TWO
PARTY 3 Districts out of 4 Reporting (75)% Votes Percent
88% of Absentee Ballots Counted
DEM LARRY NARDECCHIA 483 51%
DEM PETER R PORCINO 473 49%
Office Totals 956 100%
TURN-OUT 15%
Office TRUSTEE-VIL OF DOBBSFERRY
VOTE-FOR-THREE
PARTY 9 Districts out of 9 Reporting (100)% Votes Percent
72% of Absentee Ballots Counted
DEM PAULA K DAMBROFF 786 29%
NON PAULA K DAMBROFF 581 22%
PAULA K DAMBROFF Totals 1,367 51%
DEM TERESA M WALSH 428 16%
NON TERESA M WALSH 380 14%
TERESA M WALSH Totals 808 30%
NON FREDERICK C BRODA 527 20%
Office Totals 2,702 100%
TURN-OUT 14%
Office SUPERVISOR-GREENBURGH
PARTY 70 Districts out of 83 Reporting (84)% Votes Percent
90% of Absentee Ballots Counted
DEM PAUL J FEINER 7,537 75%
NON PAUL J FEINER 458 5%
PAUL J FEINER Totals 7,995 79%
IND SUZANNE BERGER 1,832 18%
WOR SUZANNE BERGER 248 2%
SUZANNE BERGER Totals 2,080 21%
Office Totals 10,075 100%
TURN-OUT 18%
Office TOWN CLERK - GREENBURGH
PARTY 70 Districts out of 83 Reporting (84)% Votes Percent
86% of Absentee Ballots Counted
DEM JUDITH A BEVILLE 6,858 73%
NON JUDITH A BEVILLE 295 3%
JUDITH A BEVILLE Totals 7,153 76%
IND ALFREDA WILLIAMS 2,206 24%
Office Totals 9,359 100%
TURN-OUT 17%
Office TOWN JUSTICE-GREENBURGH
VOTE-FOR-THREE
PARTY 70 Districts out of 83 Reporting (84)% Votes Percent
81% of Absentee Ballots Counted
DEM DORIS T FRIEDMAN 7,132 29%
IND DORIS T FRIEDMAN 1,194 5%
WOR DORIS T FRIEDMAN 293 1%
DORIS T FRIEDMAN Totals 8,619 35%
DEM SANDRA FORSTER 7,046 29%
IND SANDRA FORSTER 1,225 5%
WOR SANDRA FORSTER 289 1%
SANDRA FORSTER Totals 8,560 35%
DEM A GORDON-OLIVER 7,281 30%
Office Totals 24,460 100%
TURN-OUT 15%
Office MAYOR-VILL OF ARDSLEY
PARTY 3 Districts out of 4 Reporting (75)% Votes Percent
88% of Absentee Ballots Counted
DEM JAY LEON 466 81%
NON JONATHAN B LEVINE 110 19%
Office Totals 576 100%
TURN-OUT 18%
Office MAYOR-VILL OF DOBBS FERRY
PARTY 9 Districts out of 9 Reporting (100)% Votes Percent
89% of Absentee Ballots Counted
NON SCOTT SESKIN 746 52%
NON ALLEGRA F DENGLER 680 48%
Office Totals 1,426 100%
TURN-OUT 22%
Office COUNCILMAN - GREENBURGH
VOTE-FOR-TWO
PARTY 70 Districts out of 83 Reporting (84)% Votes Percent
85% of Absentee Ballots Counted
DEM KEVIN P MORGAN 7,037 39%
NON KEVIN P MORGAN 346 2%
KEVIN P MORGAN Totals 7,383 41%
DEM SONJA M BROWN 7,177 40%
WOR SONJA M BROWN 385 2%
SONJA M BROWN Totals 7,562 42%
IND EDDIE MAE BARNES 2,244 13%
WOR STEVE BASS 692 4%
Office Totals 17,881 100%
TURN-OUT 16%
Office TRUSTEE- VIL OF ARDSLEY
VOTE-FOR-TWO
PARTY 3 Districts out of 4 Reporting (75)% Votes Percent
88% of Absentee Ballots Counted
DEM LARRY NARDECCHIA 483 51%
DEM PETER R PORCINO 473 49%
Office Totals 956 100%
TURN-OUT 15%
Office TRUSTEE-VIL OF DOBBSFERRY
VOTE-FOR-THREE
PARTY 9 Districts out of 9 Reporting (100)% Votes Percent
72% of Absentee Ballots Counted
DEM PAULA K DAMBROFF 786 29%
NON PAULA K DAMBROFF 581 22%
PAULA K DAMBROFF Totals 1,367 51%
DEM TERESA M WALSH 428 16%
NON TERESA M WALSH 380 14%
TERESA M WALSH Totals 808 30%
NON FREDERICK C BRODA 527 20%
Office Totals 2,702 100%
TURN-OUT 14%
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
TODAY IS ELECTION DAY!
Today is election day.
Vote for the candidate of your choice for
TOWN SUPERVISOR
TOWN BOARD
TOWN JUDGE
State & County Judges
Vote for the candidate of your choice for
TOWN SUPERVISOR
TOWN BOARD
TOWN JUDGE
State & County Judges
Monday, November 05, 2007
ACTUAL QUOTES FROM THE TOWN COUNCIL RE: FUND BALANCE
Earlier today the other members of the Town Council sent out an e mail objecting to the 2008 proposed budget. I would like to encourage readers of these e mails to read the transcripts of the 2007 budget vote (posted on the town web site: www.greenburghny.com ---look on the left side: category—forms (miscellaneous).
Readers of the transcripts will read that I opposed depleting the fund balance. I preferred a gradual reduction of the use of fund balance.
I have also had spending differences with the other members of the Town Board.
* I wanted the town to sell the old Town Hall and use the proceeds to offset the costs of an expanded library. I also felt that the building, if sold, could have generated taxes every year for the town –keeping your taxes down. I WAS VOTED DOWN.
* I have objected to the use of outside consultants. Over a week ago the Town Board (over my objections) voted to spend $405,000 on an outside consultant. I asked that the consultant hiring be deferred until after the budget process is complete. The Board approved the contract.
* There are many other spending disagreements I have had with the Board members. I would be happy to speak to residents personally: call me at 993 1545 (office), 438-1343 (cell) 478-1219 (home).
PAUL FEINER
QUOTES FROM LAST YEARS BUDGET VOTE
December 19, 2006 Greenburgh 2007 Budget decision
BASS p5: there is plenty of fund balance
BASS p5: we are careful not to use too much of it
Sheehan p7: I'm quite proud of this budget And to get a budget that cuts taxes and also is much more transparent than the one handed to us is quite an accomplishment.
SHEEHAN p9: the supervisor has suggested not spending as much of the fund balance than what he wants to spend.
- We choose to give back a good part of it last year. And we are choosing to give a good part of it this year.
- And so here we are able to prove additional police protection. We're able to increase social service programs. We're able to increase leaf pro-leaf allocation money. And at the same time give the taxpayers a desperately needed break I'm proud of this budget.
FEINER p 10: Obviously the Board is able to reduce taxes by cutting into the fund balance. Š The question is do we use our fund balance now to provide residents with a very slight tax cut, or would it be more fiscally prudent to have a very small tax increase this year and hopefully be able to keep tax increases very low during the next few years rather than have fluctuations and taxes rates as we have seen at the county level and other levels of government. Š you are relying on a lot of luck [but] sooner or later there will be Š a bigger tax increase. And I think people want predictability and stability.
FEINER p10: I want the record to show [my] concerns, to highlight [my] concerns in terms of the unfunded liability increase.
FEINER p14: Šthe fact that we are eating into the fund balance by more than I had hoped, I predict there could be a bigger tax increase than people would want. It's going to be harder for people to predict. I would have preferred being a little bit more fiscally conservative. And I also would like to avoid the fluctuations.
SHEEHAN p17: I, along with Eddie Mae Barnes, Steve Bass and Diana Juettner, my fellow council members, do not believe in collecting or keeping more of the taxpayers' money than is necessary to meet the needs and reasonably protected needs of the Town.
FEINER p19: Nobody wants taxes to increase. But I think that most people in the Town would prefer very small, incrementalŠtax increases. They want predictability. I think they want stability.
FEINER p20: The bottom line is that in the future there are going to be tax increasesŠin the future. Šit's pay now or pay later. Would people preferŠa one or two percent increase every year or would they prefer a small dipŠnow and then a substantial increase next year?
12-01-05 Public Hearing
FEINER p 30: The former comptroller Norah McAvoy and Gisela Knight both warned the Town repeatedly that if we play politics with the fund balance, it will have a negative impact on our bond rating, on the financial stability of the Town.
=
Readers of the transcripts will read that I opposed depleting the fund balance. I preferred a gradual reduction of the use of fund balance.
I have also had spending differences with the other members of the Town Board.
* I wanted the town to sell the old Town Hall and use the proceeds to offset the costs of an expanded library. I also felt that the building, if sold, could have generated taxes every year for the town –keeping your taxes down. I WAS VOTED DOWN.
* I have objected to the use of outside consultants. Over a week ago the Town Board (over my objections) voted to spend $405,000 on an outside consultant. I asked that the consultant hiring be deferred until after the budget process is complete. The Board approved the contract.
* There are many other spending disagreements I have had with the Board members. I would be happy to speak to residents personally: call me at 993 1545 (office), 438-1343 (cell) 478-1219 (home).
PAUL FEINER
QUOTES FROM LAST YEARS BUDGET VOTE
December 19, 2006 Greenburgh 2007 Budget decision
BASS p5: there is plenty of fund balance
BASS p5: we are careful not to use too much of it
Sheehan p7: I'm quite proud of this budget And to get a budget that cuts taxes and also is much more transparent than the one handed to us is quite an accomplishment.
SHEEHAN p9: the supervisor has suggested not spending as much of the fund balance than what he wants to spend.
- We choose to give back a good part of it last year. And we are choosing to give a good part of it this year.
- And so here we are able to prove additional police protection. We're able to increase social service programs. We're able to increase leaf pro-leaf allocation money. And at the same time give the taxpayers a desperately needed break I'm proud of this budget.
FEINER p 10: Obviously the Board is able to reduce taxes by cutting into the fund balance. Š The question is do we use our fund balance now to provide residents with a very slight tax cut, or would it be more fiscally prudent to have a very small tax increase this year and hopefully be able to keep tax increases very low during the next few years rather than have fluctuations and taxes rates as we have seen at the county level and other levels of government. Š you are relying on a lot of luck [but] sooner or later there will be Š a bigger tax increase. And I think people want predictability and stability.
FEINER p10: I want the record to show [my] concerns, to highlight [my] concerns in terms of the unfunded liability increase.
FEINER p14: Šthe fact that we are eating into the fund balance by more than I had hoped, I predict there could be a bigger tax increase than people would want. It's going to be harder for people to predict. I would have preferred being a little bit more fiscally conservative. And I also would like to avoid the fluctuations.
SHEEHAN p17: I, along with Eddie Mae Barnes, Steve Bass and Diana Juettner, my fellow council members, do not believe in collecting or keeping more of the taxpayers' money than is necessary to meet the needs and reasonably protected needs of the Town.
FEINER p19: Nobody wants taxes to increase. But I think that most people in the Town would prefer very small, incrementalŠtax increases. They want predictability. I think they want stability.
FEINER p20: The bottom line is that in the future there are going to be tax increasesŠin the future. Šit's pay now or pay later. Would people preferŠa one or two percent increase every year or would they prefer a small dipŠnow and then a substantial increase next year?
12-01-05 Public Hearing
FEINER p 30: The former comptroller Norah McAvoy and Gisela Knight both warned the Town repeatedly that if we play politics with the fund balance, it will have a negative impact on our bond rating, on the financial stability of the Town.
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GREENBURGH DEMOCRACY WEEK OF NOV 5 POST YOUR COMMENTS
Please post your comments about town issues/concerns
Sunday, November 04, 2007
THINK GLOBALLY...ACT LOCALLY ON THE ENVIRONMENT...ACTION STEPS YOU CAN TAKE
We had a great time yesterday at the StepItUp2007 National Day of Climate Action rally at the Dobbs Ferry Historical Society. We thank all who attended, despite the challenging weather. And special thanks to all those who filled out postcards – they will be in the mail tomorrow. Here is a gallery full of pictures from the day:
http://gallery.mac.com/emzazzera#100074
Check out our Event Report at StepItUp:
http://events.stepitup2007.org/november/reports/2140
And events throughout the rest of the Country (pick a state or zip code):
http://events.stepitup2007.org/november/reports
There is one more action related to StepItUp2007 we are asking you to take, if you are willing: Call your Congressional Representatives on Monday, November 5. Here is a link to StepItUp2007’s website that goes over the details, including telephone numbers:
http://stepitup2007.org/article.php?id=683
For most of the folks on our mailing list, this will mean making up to 3 phone calls, contacting the offices of Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Representative Eliot Engle (if you live west of Broadway) OR Representative Nita Lowey (if you live East of Broadway). If your time is limited, we suggest contacting Senator Schumer, and/or your Representative, because Senator Clinton has already responded to this event, whereas the others have not. Please call even if you did not attend our Dobbs Ferry event, because the main idea of the call is to express concern about Global Climate Change, and to inform our elected officials about the 1 Sky initiative, with these 3 priorities:
1) Create 5 million green jobs that will conserve 20% of our energy by 2015.
2) Cut carbon 80% by 2050, 30% by 2020.
3) A moratorium on new coal-fired power plants.
http://gallery.mac.com/emzazzera#100074
Check out our Event Report at StepItUp:
http://events.stepitup2007.org/november/reports/2140
And events throughout the rest of the Country (pick a state or zip code):
http://events.stepitup2007.org/november/reports
There is one more action related to StepItUp2007 we are asking you to take, if you are willing: Call your Congressional Representatives on Monday, November 5. Here is a link to StepItUp2007’s website that goes over the details, including telephone numbers:
http://stepitup2007.org/article.php?id=683
For most of the folks on our mailing list, this will mean making up to 3 phone calls, contacting the offices of Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Representative Eliot Engle (if you live west of Broadway) OR Representative Nita Lowey (if you live East of Broadway). If your time is limited, we suggest contacting Senator Schumer, and/or your Representative, because Senator Clinton has already responded to this event, whereas the others have not. Please call even if you did not attend our Dobbs Ferry event, because the main idea of the call is to express concern about Global Climate Change, and to inform our elected officials about the 1 Sky initiative, with these 3 priorities:
1) Create 5 million green jobs that will conserve 20% of our energy by 2015.
2) Cut carbon 80% by 2050, 30% by 2020.
3) A moratorium on new coal-fired power plants.
FREE CONCERT TOMORROW--US MARINE BAND
The United States Marine Band (The Presidents Own Band) will perform a free concert tomorrow evening, Monday, November 5th at 7:30 PM at the Westchester County Center. Doors open to the general public at 7:15 PM. The event is being sponsored by the Westchester County Parks Dept. They are a terrific band. Enjoy!
PAUL FEINER
PAUL FEINER
Thursday, November 01, 2007
HOUSECALLS TO DISCUSS 2008 BUDGET ...YOUR INPUT WANTED
The 2008 proposed budget has been released. We should look at the budget as a first draft. I welcome the opportunity to meet with residents to discuss budget issues and budget options during the next two months. The budget must be approved by the Town Board by December 20th.
If you would like to organize a meeting of your neighbors and want me or any other town officials to attend the meeting and provide you with a personalized briefing--- please contact me at 993-1540, 438-1343 (cell) or 478-1219 (h). I'm available weekdays, evenings and weekends. Other town officials may not be available on weekends. Meetings can be held at your home or at Town Hall.
Government must be a partnership with the citizens and elected officials. We need to have a community discussion: what services we need, what services we want, what services we can afford. We also should focus attention on looking for additional ways to save money, to stretch our dollars so we get the maximum value for our tax dollars.
Thanks for partnering in the decision making process of government.
PAUL FEINER
If you would like to organize a meeting of your neighbors and want me or any other town officials to attend the meeting and provide you with a personalized briefing--- please contact me at 993-1540, 438-1343 (cell) or 478-1219 (h). I'm available weekdays, evenings and weekends. Other town officials may not be available on weekends. Meetings can be held at your home or at Town Hall.
Government must be a partnership with the citizens and elected officials. We need to have a community discussion: what services we need, what services we want, what services we can afford. We also should focus attention on looking for additional ways to save money, to stretch our dollars so we get the maximum value for our tax dollars.
Thanks for partnering in the decision making process of government.
PAUL FEINER
HOUSECALLS TO DISCUSS 2008 BUDGET ...YOUR INPUT WANTED
The 2008 proposed budget has been released. We should look at the budget as a first draft. I welcome the opportunity to meet with residents to discuss budget issues and budget options during the next two months. The budget must be approved by the Town Board by December 20th.
If you would like to organize a meeting of your neighbors and want me or any other town officials to attend the meeting and provide you with a personalized briefing--- please contact me at 993-1540, 438-1343 (cell) or 478-1219 (h). I'm available weekdays, evenings and weekends. Other town officials may not be available on weekends. Meetings can be held at your home or at Town Hall.
Government must be a partnership with the citizens and elected officials. We need to have a community discussion: what services we need, what services we want, what services we can afford. We also should focus attention on looking for additional ways to save money, to stretch our dollars so we get the maximum value for our tax dollars.
Thanks for partnering in the decision making process of government.
PAUL FEINER
If you would like to organize a meeting of your neighbors and want me or any other town officials to attend the meeting and provide you with a personalized briefing--- please contact me at 993-1540, 438-1343 (cell) or 478-1219 (h). I'm available weekdays, evenings and weekends. Other town officials may not be available on weekends. Meetings can be held at your home or at Town Hall.
Government must be a partnership with the citizens and elected officials. We need to have a community discussion: what services we need, what services we want, what services we can afford. We also should focus attention on looking for additional ways to save money, to stretch our dollars so we get the maximum value for our tax dollars.
Thanks for partnering in the decision making process of government.
PAUL FEINER
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
ENTIRE PROPOSED BUDGET ON WEB
The entire proposed 2008 budget is on the web site: www.greenburghny.com
PATROLLING THE STREETS OF GREENBURGH WITH POLICE CHIEF ON HALLOWEEN, 2007
This halloween evening I spent some of my time driving around town with Police Chief Kapica. We've been patrolling the streets of Greenburgh for 16 years on Halloween night-- monitoring the police calls (there were over 60 calls to the police department) and checking up on problem areas.
The town assigned 31 police, 6 auxiliary officers to patrol unincorporated Greenburgh on Halloween. 11 officers were on overtime. The approximate overtime cost: $4,000.
It was a busy evening. The good news: no significant reports of property damage as of 11:30 PM. We did experience some incidents of halloween pranks/mischief. I stopped by and spoke to a couple who experienced the typical shaving cream/egg problems some people expect on Halloween. The police caught some students who were involved in the incident and required them to clean up the mess they caused. Good, solomon like punishment! There were some fights among students. The police put a stop to the fighting. A few students were taken into police headquarters.
Although it was a busy night, Halloween, 2007 was mild compared to 16 or 17 years ago when cars were vandalized and when there was significant property damage. I feel that providing the police with the funding they require to adequately patrol the town is money well spent.
The town assigned 31 police, 6 auxiliary officers to patrol unincorporated Greenburgh on Halloween. 11 officers were on overtime. The approximate overtime cost: $4,000.
It was a busy evening. The good news: no significant reports of property damage as of 11:30 PM. We did experience some incidents of halloween pranks/mischief. I stopped by and spoke to a couple who experienced the typical shaving cream/egg problems some people expect on Halloween. The police caught some students who were involved in the incident and required them to clean up the mess they caused. Good, solomon like punishment! There were some fights among students. The police put a stop to the fighting. A few students were taken into police headquarters.
Although it was a busy night, Halloween, 2007 was mild compared to 16 or 17 years ago when cars were vandalized and when there was significant property damage. I feel that providing the police with the funding they require to adequately patrol the town is money well spent.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
BOARDS DECISION IN 2005 AND 2006 TO DRAMATICALLY CUT FUND BALANCE LEADS TO BIG TAX HIKE...I DIFFERED WITH LAST YEARS POLICY
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CUT THE FUND BALANCE BY 7 MILLION DOLLARS IN TWO YEARS…HAVE TWO CONSECUTIVE ZERO PERCENT TAX INCREASES (IN 2006 & IN 2007)…INCREASE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES…ARE INVOLVED IN THE LARGEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN TOWN HISTORY?
THE 2008 PROPOSED BUDGET WAS RELEASED TODAY. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS A TAX HIKE. THE AVERAGE RESIDENT OF UNINCORPORATED GREENBURGH WILL SEE THEIR 2008 TAXES GO UP BY $413.02 IN 2009.
THE MAJOR REASON FOR THE BIG JUMP IN TAXES IN 2008 IS BECAUSE THE TOWN BOARD REDUCED THE FUND BALANCE (SURPLUS) BY OVER 7 MILLION IN TWO YEARS. During my tenure as Town Supervisor we built up a very healthy fund balance. All the members of the Board have been tapping into the fund balance to reduce the impact on taxes over the years. During the past two years there was a dramatic change in the use of fund balance. The other Board members wanted to give people back the bulk of the fund balance over a two year period. There were two zero percent tax hikes. At the same time, the Board members increased spending. I differed with the Board members. I favored gradual tax hikes and proposed that the Board not dip into the fund balance by the extent they did. I feel that people want predictability and stability, not dramatic swings in the tax rate. The entire transcripts of the 2007 budget vote and discussion are posted on the town web site: www.greenburghny.com. (look under forms—miscelleneous). You can read the exchange of opinions between the Board members and me re: fund balance policy in its entirety.
THE 2008 BUDGET WAS FILED WITH THE TOWN CLERK TODAY. THE BUDGET MESSAGE WILL BE POSTED IN ITS ENTIRETY ON THE TOWN WEB SITE TOMORROW AND THE ENTIRE BUDGET WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEB SITE (WWW.GREENBURGHNY.COM) LATER THIS WEEK. I am willing to meet with any resident to discuss the budget with you and to solicit your feedback. I cut $2 million from the department budget requests. Could I have cut more? Should the Board cut more funds from the budget? If we do, it will impact services. What services/programs should be cut, if any?
The following are excerpts from my comments of December 19, 2006 objecting to the drastic sudden fund balance cuts…
STATE OF NEW YORK
TOWN OF GREENBURGH
x-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x
Decision Before The Town Board
Of Greenburgh, New York, in Connection
With the Adoption of the 2007 Budget
x-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x
December 19, 2006 Greenburgh Town Hall
4:40 p.m. 177 Hillside Avenue
Greenburgh, New York
BOARD MEMBERS:
Supervisor Paul Feiner
Councilwoman Eddie Mae Barnes
Councilman Steven Bass
Councilwoman Diana Juettner
Councilman Francis X. Sheehan
STAFF MEMBERS:
Town Attorney Timothy W. Lewis
Town Clerk Alfreda Williams
REPORTED BY: Lori Ann Schirripa
Official Court Reporter
QUOTES FROM 12-19-06 BUDGET HEARING BY SUPERVISOR FEINER
ENTIRE TRANSCRIPT ON TOWN WEB SITE: www.greenburghny.com (see forms—miscelleneous)
PAGE 10
Obviously the Board is able to reduce taxes by cutting into the fund balance. And in the B budget you cut into the fund balance by about $750,000. Cutting into the fund balance surplus is not really a right answer and a wrong answer. It’s a policy decision. The question is, do we use up our fund balance now and provide residents with a very slight tax cut or would it be more fiscally prudent to have a very small tax increase this year and hopefully be able to keep tax increases very low during the next few years rather than have fluctuations and tax rates as we have seen at the county level and other levels of government.
I remember a couple years ago the County Executive and the County Board of Legislatures for three or four years, consecutive years, they had zero percent tax increases one after another. And then it was followed by a whopping whopper. I think it was over a 20 percent, you know, tax hike. And people were unprepared and it caused a lot of aggravation. And my concern is that if we would eat up into our fund balance and we have a faith based budget, as Elliot Spitzer says, he uses a term space base, where you’re relying on a lot to luck that sooner or later there will be a tax, you know, bigger tax increase.
PAGE 11
And I think people want predictability and stability. But again right now we do have the surplus. And by voting for a tax - - very small tax cut now, you know we have to let people know that there is a good chance that in the next few years there will be a tax increase. And, you know, the question is when are people going to pay for it.
SUPERVISOR FEINER: There is no public comments, but I have the right to say anything I want. So, I am going to be reading a statement, which I said - - I don’t tell you what you could say. You can’t tell me what I can say. This is part of my comments because, you know, I want it on the record, because I want the record to show the concerns, to highlight the concern in terms of the unfunded liability issues.
He indicates first Mayor Bloomberg recently announced, and he said last two or three months if my memory is correct, that rather than expand new or existing programs and reduce taxes, he as recommending that three billion of the city’s recently discovered surpluses be earmarked to begin to address the City of New York’s problem.
PAGE 13
There is other expenses. We haven’t paid yet the bulk of the library. There are other expenses. As I indicated, the borrowing for the bulk - - for a good chunk of the library construction, that’s a $20,000,000, you know, bond that was approved by the voters. It’s going to come due with the 2008 budget. So that’s, you know, before you even start, there is an additional expense that people are paying for the library. And then that’s 2008. And then the following year we’re going to have to start paying not only for the library, which we’re doing, but also the unfunded liability issues. And that’s assuming, that means we have additional, you know, expenses that we don’t have, you know, right now.
PAGE 14
So, my feeling is that it’s going to be very, very difficult in the future to avoid a zero percent tax increase or tax reductions. In fact, the fact that we’re eating into the fund balance by more than I had hoped, I predict, you know, there could be, you know, bigger tax increases than people would want. It’s going to be harder for people to predict. But again when you look at this budget right now, if you take this budget and you say, is this budget fine for 2007, you know, I can vote for it. It’s acceptable. It’s just, I would have preferred being a little bit more fiscally conservative. And I also would like to avoid the fluctuations.
PAGE 19
SUPERVISOR FEINER: Well, all I could say is that time will tell. You know, if we do have fluctuations in future tax increases, as I think we will, because, you know, I do not believe we’ll be able to maintain the zero percent tax increases, then, you know, remember what I warned and suggested. I believe that most people - - nobody wants to pay taxes. Nobody wants taxes to increase. But I think that most people in the Town would prefer very small incremental, you know, tax increases. They want predictability. I think they want stability. And although my fund balance policy is a proposal, I do feel that it’s only a proposal. It was ever adopted by the Town Board. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, the Town Board, you know, has
PAGE 20
As I said before, we do have the unfunded liabilities. We know that’s an additional cost that we’re going to have to pay for beginning in 2009. We have the library. You know, that’s additional costs we’re going to have to pay for next year. You know, we know that costs keep going up, salaries keep getting increased. We have some additional union negotiations that will have to be, you know, finalized. And I’m sure there will be increases in union, you know, wages.
So, the bottom line is, there are going to be tax increases, you know, in the future. Again, it’s pay now or pay later. And again, how much do you pay later. Would people prefer, you know, a one or two percent increase every year of would they prefer a small dip in the taxes now and then a substantial increase next year or two or three years from now.
THE 2008 PROPOSED BUDGET WAS RELEASED TODAY. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS A TAX HIKE. THE AVERAGE RESIDENT OF UNINCORPORATED GREENBURGH WILL SEE THEIR 2008 TAXES GO UP BY $413.02 IN 2009.
THE MAJOR REASON FOR THE BIG JUMP IN TAXES IN 2008 IS BECAUSE THE TOWN BOARD REDUCED THE FUND BALANCE (SURPLUS) BY OVER 7 MILLION IN TWO YEARS. During my tenure as Town Supervisor we built up a very healthy fund balance. All the members of the Board have been tapping into the fund balance to reduce the impact on taxes over the years. During the past two years there was a dramatic change in the use of fund balance. The other Board members wanted to give people back the bulk of the fund balance over a two year period. There were two zero percent tax hikes. At the same time, the Board members increased spending. I differed with the Board members. I favored gradual tax hikes and proposed that the Board not dip into the fund balance by the extent they did. I feel that people want predictability and stability, not dramatic swings in the tax rate. The entire transcripts of the 2007 budget vote and discussion are posted on the town web site: www.greenburghny.com. (look under forms—miscelleneous). You can read the exchange of opinions between the Board members and me re: fund balance policy in its entirety.
THE 2008 BUDGET WAS FILED WITH THE TOWN CLERK TODAY. THE BUDGET MESSAGE WILL BE POSTED IN ITS ENTIRETY ON THE TOWN WEB SITE TOMORROW AND THE ENTIRE BUDGET WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEB SITE (WWW.GREENBURGHNY.COM) LATER THIS WEEK. I am willing to meet with any resident to discuss the budget with you and to solicit your feedback. I cut $2 million from the department budget requests. Could I have cut more? Should the Board cut more funds from the budget? If we do, it will impact services. What services/programs should be cut, if any?
The following are excerpts from my comments of December 19, 2006 objecting to the drastic sudden fund balance cuts…
STATE OF NEW YORK
TOWN OF GREENBURGH
x-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x
Decision Before The Town Board
Of Greenburgh, New York, in Connection
With the Adoption of the 2007 Budget
x-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x
December 19, 2006 Greenburgh Town Hall
4:40 p.m. 177 Hillside Avenue
Greenburgh, New York
BOARD MEMBERS:
Supervisor Paul Feiner
Councilwoman Eddie Mae Barnes
Councilman Steven Bass
Councilwoman Diana Juettner
Councilman Francis X. Sheehan
STAFF MEMBERS:
Town Attorney Timothy W. Lewis
Town Clerk Alfreda Williams
REPORTED BY: Lori Ann Schirripa
Official Court Reporter
QUOTES FROM 12-19-06 BUDGET HEARING BY SUPERVISOR FEINER
ENTIRE TRANSCRIPT ON TOWN WEB SITE: www.greenburghny.com (see forms—miscelleneous)
PAGE 10
Obviously the Board is able to reduce taxes by cutting into the fund balance. And in the B budget you cut into the fund balance by about $750,000. Cutting into the fund balance surplus is not really a right answer and a wrong answer. It’s a policy decision. The question is, do we use up our fund balance now and provide residents with a very slight tax cut or would it be more fiscally prudent to have a very small tax increase this year and hopefully be able to keep tax increases very low during the next few years rather than have fluctuations and tax rates as we have seen at the county level and other levels of government.
I remember a couple years ago the County Executive and the County Board of Legislatures for three or four years, consecutive years, they had zero percent tax increases one after another. And then it was followed by a whopping whopper. I think it was over a 20 percent, you know, tax hike. And people were unprepared and it caused a lot of aggravation. And my concern is that if we would eat up into our fund balance and we have a faith based budget, as Elliot Spitzer says, he uses a term space base, where you’re relying on a lot to luck that sooner or later there will be a tax, you know, bigger tax increase.
PAGE 11
And I think people want predictability and stability. But again right now we do have the surplus. And by voting for a tax - - very small tax cut now, you know we have to let people know that there is a good chance that in the next few years there will be a tax increase. And, you know, the question is when are people going to pay for it.
SUPERVISOR FEINER: There is no public comments, but I have the right to say anything I want. So, I am going to be reading a statement, which I said - - I don’t tell you what you could say. You can’t tell me what I can say. This is part of my comments because, you know, I want it on the record, because I want the record to show the concerns, to highlight the concern in terms of the unfunded liability issues.
He indicates first Mayor Bloomberg recently announced, and he said last two or three months if my memory is correct, that rather than expand new or existing programs and reduce taxes, he as recommending that three billion of the city’s recently discovered surpluses be earmarked to begin to address the City of New York’s problem.
PAGE 13
There is other expenses. We haven’t paid yet the bulk of the library. There are other expenses. As I indicated, the borrowing for the bulk - - for a good chunk of the library construction, that’s a $20,000,000, you know, bond that was approved by the voters. It’s going to come due with the 2008 budget. So that’s, you know, before you even start, there is an additional expense that people are paying for the library. And then that’s 2008. And then the following year we’re going to have to start paying not only for the library, which we’re doing, but also the unfunded liability issues. And that’s assuming, that means we have additional, you know, expenses that we don’t have, you know, right now.
PAGE 14
So, my feeling is that it’s going to be very, very difficult in the future to avoid a zero percent tax increase or tax reductions. In fact, the fact that we’re eating into the fund balance by more than I had hoped, I predict, you know, there could be, you know, bigger tax increases than people would want. It’s going to be harder for people to predict. But again when you look at this budget right now, if you take this budget and you say, is this budget fine for 2007, you know, I can vote for it. It’s acceptable. It’s just, I would have preferred being a little bit more fiscally conservative. And I also would like to avoid the fluctuations.
PAGE 19
SUPERVISOR FEINER: Well, all I could say is that time will tell. You know, if we do have fluctuations in future tax increases, as I think we will, because, you know, I do not believe we’ll be able to maintain the zero percent tax increases, then, you know, remember what I warned and suggested. I believe that most people - - nobody wants to pay taxes. Nobody wants taxes to increase. But I think that most people in the Town would prefer very small incremental, you know, tax increases. They want predictability. I think they want stability. And although my fund balance policy is a proposal, I do feel that it’s only a proposal. It was ever adopted by the Town Board. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, the Town Board, you know, has
PAGE 20
As I said before, we do have the unfunded liabilities. We know that’s an additional cost that we’re going to have to pay for beginning in 2009. We have the library. You know, that’s additional costs we’re going to have to pay for next year. You know, we know that costs keep going up, salaries keep getting increased. We have some additional union negotiations that will have to be, you know, finalized. And I’m sure there will be increases in union, you know, wages.
So, the bottom line is, there are going to be tax increases, you know, in the future. Again, it’s pay now or pay later. And again, how much do you pay later. Would people prefer, you know, a one or two percent increase every year of would they prefer a small dip in the taxes now and then a substantial increase next year or two or three years from now.
Monday, October 29, 2007
$405,000 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CONTAINS WORK THAT SHOULD BE DONE IN HOUSE, AT SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS TO TAXPAYERS
I spent some time reviewing the $405,000 comprehensive plan contract that the Town Board wants me to sign. I am currently reviewing the terms of the contract and have some initial concerns. The big concern: wasting taxpayer dollars unnecessarily.
The contract includes initial costs that could be done in house – not by expensive, outside consultants. In the coming months taxpayers will be asked to pay for a survey, survey analysis plan, mailing lists, survey tabulations, analysis and presentation, outreach. These costs are expensive: $19,500 for community meetings, public participation, issue formulation and communication: $35,000; data collection: $34,410; data analysis: $61,440.
I am convinced that each of the above outreach initiatives could be done by our capable town staff, at significant savings to the taxpayers. We don’t need to hire a consultant to help us determine what people are thinking. If we are going to hire a consultant we should use the consultant to help us with technical matters—work town staff cannot do in house.
We have a difficult budget coming up – with a significant tax hike. This is the time to prioritize spending. I hope that the Town Board will reconsider their decision to hire a consultant to complete a comprehensive plan and suggest that the contract be reviewed, modified and that the costs of the proposed plan be decreased.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
The contract includes initial costs that could be done in house – not by expensive, outside consultants. In the coming months taxpayers will be asked to pay for a survey, survey analysis plan, mailing lists, survey tabulations, analysis and presentation, outreach. These costs are expensive: $19,500 for community meetings, public participation, issue formulation and communication: $35,000; data collection: $34,410; data analysis: $61,440.
I am convinced that each of the above outreach initiatives could be done by our capable town staff, at significant savings to the taxpayers. We don’t need to hire a consultant to help us determine what people are thinking. If we are going to hire a consultant we should use the consultant to help us with technical matters—work town staff cannot do in house.
We have a difficult budget coming up – with a significant tax hike. This is the time to prioritize spending. I hope that the Town Board will reconsider their decision to hire a consultant to complete a comprehensive plan and suggest that the contract be reviewed, modified and that the costs of the proposed plan be decreased.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor
WEEK OF OCT 29 POST YOUR COMMENTS GREENBURGH DEMOCRACY
Post your comments
Greenburgh Democracy
MEETING TONIGHT EDGEMONT HIGH WITH POLICE CHIEF 8 PM
PROPOSED 2008 BUDGET RELEASED TOMORROW
HALLOWEEN this week-- police will be patrolling streets
Greenburgh Democracy
MEETING TONIGHT EDGEMONT HIGH WITH POLICE CHIEF 8 PM
PROPOSED 2008 BUDGET RELEASED TOMORROW
HALLOWEEN this week-- police will be patrolling streets
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