WPCNR  TAXING TIMES. By John F. Bailey. July 1, 2009: The City of White Plains efficiently mailed out the first of White Plains residents’ tax bills today. Residents opening the envelopes this evening will note they have a 5.5% tax increase split between the city, schools and the county. Though the county tax is lot listed, just add $2,400 if you are a White Plains resident.

The property tax on the average White Plains Home marketed at $650,000 including county, schools and city is $13,294 compared to $12,600 in 2008-2009, up $694 or 5.5%

Greetings from the Department of Finance.

The White Plains Week Projection of this April, Comes All Too True within $50.

The median White Plains home on the market valued at $650,000 will find their city and school tax bill to be $10,894 up from $10,342 last year, a $552 increase -- 5.3% from the city and the schools tab combined. Add to that the County tax of $2,400 and the increase is up to $694. 

The city tax increase increase takes a mere $177 hors d'oeuvre off your canape plate in comparison increasing the city share of the average homeowner from $2,724 this year to 2,901 in 2009-10, $177 more -- a 6.4% Increase

The school district tax increase for the average homeowner is $374. (It was $7,618 last year up to $7,992 this year, a 4.9% Increase.

Those with homes with a market value of less than $650,000 of course have less of an increase, while those in $650,000 and up homes – you’re looking at $1,000 or more in tax increases, from city and school tax increases. Throw in the County piece and you're definitely up a grand.

The actual school tax increase is $7 more than White Plains Week predicted. The city tax, $44 more than predicted.

Examination of the average home in White Plains ($650,000) tax bill,  we note that as WPCNR has been reporting for two years, and every other media chose to ignore, is that the lowering of the STAR ASSESSMENT has impacted exactly as WPCNR and White Plains Week said it would. Compare the White Plains Week prediction last April (above) with the Residential STAR line on the tax bill below, They match. The Basic Exemption is 2,960, just as White Plains Week and this website predicted.

Note Assessed Value (center, bottom line: $2,960) -- that cost you the taxpayer $250  

The assessed value of a typical White Plains home may not decline this year, but because the STAR BASIC EXEMPTION did, (to $2,960 from $3,330 of 2008-09) if you enjoy the BASIC EXEMPTION, you’re paying $250 more in taxes.

 If you’re a senior citizen the ENHANCED EXEMPTION you are now entitled to  is down more   so you pay an extra $407 in property tax. You have the governor and the state legislature to thank for this stealth tax increase on the back end, so to speak.

And, taxpayers will not be receiving that nice little STAR REBATE any more this year, so that’s going to cost you, too.

This year’s tax bill in years to come, will be looked back upon as the good old days of $11,000 a year taxes wistfully.