should the town reassess properties? 10 million loss in ratables a year

TOWN RATABLES DOWN TEN MILLION (town and villages) IN ONE YEAR DUE TO CERTIORARI REFUNDS
TONIGHT THE TOWN BD SETTLED ADDITIONAL CERTIORARI'S --CENTRAL 7 SCHOOL WILL ISSUE REFUND OF 3 MILLION...
SHOULD WE REASSESS? what do you think????

The October 27th Town Board meeting was not a great night for the Central 7 School district. If you read the following summaries-- the Town Board voted to settle a series of certiorari's with Highpoint. The Central 7 School district will be issuing a check for a few million dollars to Highpoint. The town is also issuing A BIG WHOPPING CHECK FOR MORE THAN A MILLION TO HIGHPOINT PROPERTY OWNERS. The county and fire districts are also issuing big checks..
Big refunds to property owners are approved at almost every Town Board meeting. The result: Our revenues are going down and have to be made up with tax hikes that you pay. This year the town will be cutting checks for $5 million. Next year it will be the same. If we keep spending flat you get a tax hike because revenues are down, due to certioari's. Are we throwing your tax dollars away? Do we have a responsibility to stop the bleeding?
Although the assessor can REDUCE taxes people pay--we can't increase the assessments unless there were home improvements.


There is a new Judge assigning Certiorari cases and he has actually expedited the process to the point that this has created a financial burden to the taxing jurisdictions, that most that are able, are now bonding to pay back the taxes.

QUESTION: Should the town reassess? WE, like almost every community in Westchester, have not reassessed since 1956. If we don't reassess certiorari's will continue and there will continue to be swings in tax rates each year.

What do you think? If we reassess should there be hardship provisions for senior citizens or a phase in period? Usually, after a reassessment takes place one third of the properties go up, one third go down and one third stays the same.

Is the failure to reassess actually costing you more since taxes keep going up due to ratable losses and refund checks?

In recent weeks I have been meeting with Village Boards located in Greenburgh. I have written to every school district in Greenburgh requesting an opportunity to meet with their School Board (Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings, Irvington, Central 7, Edgemont, Tarrytown, Valhalla, Pocantico).

If you would like to attend a community meeting about this matter or if you would like to be kept informed of the actions we are considering and discussions being held - please advise. In the past reassessment been avoided. However- the failure to reassess may be hurting everyone. So, at the minimum, we should have a serious discussion--should we stop the bleeding and take action?

Looking forward to hearing from you. e mail pfeiner@greenburghny.com

PAUL FEINER



REFUND CHECK ACTION FROM OCTOBER 27TH TOWN BOARD MEETING

THESE RESOLUTIONS WERE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY--AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE HAD NO CHOICE.

AT 1 – 10/27/10 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Highpoint at Hartsdale Condominium I, for property located on Highpoint Drive. The Town's share of the refund is $478,830±; the Greenburgh Central School District No. 7’s share is $1,273,274±; the County's share is $354,713±; the Hartsdale Fire District’s share is $401,454±; the Bronx Valley Sewer District’s share is $46,707±; the Consolidated Sewer Mtc. District’s share is $9,470±. Refunds from all sources total $2,564,446±.

AT 2 – 10/27/10 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Highpoint at Hartsdale Condominium II, for property located on Highpoint Drive. The Town's share of the refund is $282,382±; the Greenburgh Central School District No. 7’s share is $744,535±; the County's share is $209,186±; the Hartsdale Fire District’s share is $236,750±; the Bronx Valley Sewer District’s share is $27,545±; the Consolidated Sewer Mtc. District’s share is $5,585±. Refunds from all sources total $1,505,983±.

AT 3 – 10/27/10 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Highpoint at Hartsdale Condominium III, for property located on Highpoint Drive. The Town's share of the refund is $465,360±; the Greenburgh Central School District No. 7’s share is $1,226,979±; the County's share is $344,734±; the Fairview District’s share is $377,927±; the Bronx Valley Sewer