Message from the Mayor: Assessment, Downtown Survey, Voter Registration, Nice things
Posted on: October 11, 2016 - 11:31pm
Fellow Resident,
It has been a few weeks since the last report. A few things to cover:
Assessment
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The Town of Greenburgh, of which we are part, has finished its reassessment program. The Town assessment roll is used by the Town, County and (most importantly) our school system to determine your share of the taxes required to keep the lights on in those three entities. The Village, for reasons lost in the fog of time, maintains its own assessment roll, last updated over 55 years ago and that is what is used to determine the Village tax rate (about 20% of your total property tax load). Maintaining our own roll does not come without cost, however, including paying our own assessor and fees to an attorney who manages challenges against our roll. The Village has the option of adopting the Town assessment roll, and essentially outsourcing the costs of an assessor and attorney to the Town. In the past, when the two rolls were woefully out of synch with one another and neither particularly accurate, it didn't seem to make much sense to do so. Now, even with its flaws, it is clear that Greenburgh’s roll reflects actual current values more accurately. As a result, the Board will be considering adopting the Town roll this fall. This will reduce the likelihood of challenges since the roll will be more reflective of reality (and fairer as a result), make it easier on residents who do challenge their assessment because it will be a single location for assessment, and save us at least $25,000 a year previously spent on our own assessor and lawyer. That seems a compelling set of reasons to move ahead.
We will also be reviewing the various deductions already in place for seniors and firefighters. Greenburgh's roll also offers these deductions (and others), and are typically somewhat more generous than ours. We will be deciding whether to adopt their deductions and amounts, or maintain ours at their current levels.
How will this affect you? Your Village and Town assessments were typically different, so it is impossible to predict whether your Village taxes will necessarily go up or down. Odds are that if the estimate during the reassessment process indicated that your School, Town and County taxes were going to go up or down markedly, the Village taxes are likely to trend in that direction for you as well, if we do indeed adopt the roll. Moving forward, you will have the same assessment for all your taxes, and it should be reflective of reality. This wouldn't be applied to your taxes until the second half of 2017.
Downtown Survey
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While a number of eateries will be opening in the next month or so, there still remains several other empty storefronts. Our Downtown Advocate has been working with realtors to fill those locations, and believes that input from the public will assist in that process. You will be getting a survey via email in the next day or two. It will take you ten minutes to complete and will give us – and prospective merchants – great insight into your preferences for our downtown.
Voter Registration
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I can't imagine there are many left who aren't registered, but if so, you’re running out of time (your form must be postmarked by October 14th). If you have moved to town from elsewhere in NY, you should be aware that your registration does not automatically transfer. You need to submit a registration form with your new address. You can pick up a form in the Municipal Building (on your right as you walk in) or go here.
Nice Things
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We continue to glow in the aftermath of the Fire Department parade two weeks ago (and its blow-out Friday Night Live event the night before), as well as the latest one, an Octoberfest that was crowded and lively. We have our annual Friday Night Dead coming up at the end of October with the usual range of events you have come to appreciate and expect. I'm always struck by how happy and well-attended these events are. In an atomized and fractured society, we hunger for moments to come together and experience a sense of community. These Friday Night Live events are by now a tradition that are truly unique and special. Like the Farmer's Market and the other public events we enjoy (such as the wonderful fundraiser concert run by Jon Pattituci this last Saturday for the hungry), it gives us all a chance to collectively experience each other's company while enjoying music, food, or whatever else is on deck for that event. Grab these moments when they happen and savor them - they help make Hastings the remarkable place it is.
Finally, a reminder. School is in session and children everywhere. We’ve painted crosswalks and installed reminders of your obligation to drive safely. The Slow Down campaign is still in effect. Enjoy the pace appropriate to a small village by hewing to the speed limit. It may save a life.
Sincerely,
Peter Swiderski
Mayor