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Tax Roll down $5 Million.WPers Face 3% Tax Hike Before Revenues Counted

Posted on March 2, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. March 2, 2009 UPDATED March 3, 2009 6 P.M. E.S.T.: The City Assessor presented the final 2009 Tax Assessment Roll Monday, and it reports city assessments declined $1.6 Million more than the $288.4 Million previously reported January 2 to $286.8 Million. It means an automatic 3% tax increase for the school district budget. If your home is worth $700,000, assessed value of $15,100, your School Tax goes to about $8,000.

If the city budget does not go up past this year’s budget of $161.7 Million, your City Tax hits $2,770, up $50 and your county tax hits $2,400. Total tax bill estimated, $13,370 and perhaps rising another $1,000 if — if the city raises its budget. As the school district and city continue to build their budgets with income projections softening, the taxpayer can well be apprehensive.

The City of White Plains 2009 Final Assessment Roll Reaches Out and Touches Your Wallet.

The total decline in assessments year to year was $291,802,226 to $286,811,998, $8,200 shy of a $5 Million decline, down 1.7%. The City Assessed Value is $285.2 Million.

CERTIORARI HEMORRHAGE CREATES TAX SQUEEZE TO COME? If the tax refund trends of the mid-90s return to White Plains in the next two years, the school district and the city could face a major cetiorari hemorrhage. Note how, even with “modest” school budget increases in ’92.,’93.’94,’95, ’98 and ’99, when a certiorari “drain” hits the tax increase almost doubles to make up for it. To fund the current Preliminary School Budget, the school district is committed to an automatic 3% tax increase, because the recent round of assessment grievances have further dropped the tax roll $1.6 Million, making it off $5 Million, not $3.3 Million as previously projected, meaning a 3% tax increase, not a 2% tax increase

The $1.6 Million decline since January 2, is directly the result of 251 successful assessment challenges at the Board of Assessment Review of 855 filed with the City Assessor in January. If other school district revenues decline significantly as expected, the school tax rate increase could move up to 5.3%

The decline means the White Plains City School District has $5 Million less assessment base to raise revenue to fund its Preliminary $185.6 Million budget now being considered. With only $286.8 Million in tax base, down from the $291.8 M of 2008, it means the tax rate has to advance $16 per thousand to $519/M. That’s where it has to go to collect the $148.8 Million to matching last year’s tax collection of $147 Million plus the additional $1.5 Million now contemplated being added to bring the new budget to $185.9Million.

The Preliminary Budget could conceivably call for an additional 2.3% tax increase to 5.3%. This scenario might happen if the $2.5 Million in state school aid (currently at $15.3M ) is taken away as the school district anticipates, and if the MTA tax on school districts that would hit up the district for $325,000 is enacted. Of course if school district revenues of $38 Million (including Payments in Lieu of Taxes) decline, the tax rate will go up accordingly, possibly beyond 5.3%

Don’t Forget the STAR BANDITS “Take”

Mr. and Mrs. And Ms. White Plains might also be expected by Governor David Paterson and the State Legislature to kick back an additional 18% of the BASIC and ENCHANCED STAR that will add just a tad of a surcharge to your taxes. On the $700,000 home the BASIC STAR cut costs the under-65 taxpayer an additional $224 (using the $519/$1,000 tax rate we have calculated). The over-65 taxpayer enjoying ENHANCED STAR definitely will have his or her tax bill enhanced even more negatively, contributing an additional $507. The senior ENHANCED CUT is significantly more impacting than the BASIC Cut.

A Disturbing Trend Continues

This was the sixth decline in the City Assessed Value in the last seven years of the Delfino Administration, going back to 2003-2004, despite the city “Renaissance.” Prior to 03-04, the assessment roll had increased three out of five years, with the roll advancing in 2000-01, 2001-2002, and 2002-2003.

Unfortunately, the trend in assessment decline among all properties should only accelerate due to the 15%, 50 point decline, in the equalization rate last year to 2.75% in each of the last two years from 3.24% in 2006-2007.

That has been the unfortunate history of equalization rate fallout. Two years after a drop, the certiorari filings mount creating havoc on the tax roll and pain in school tax payers’ budgets.

Previously when the Equalization Rate declined 25%, 60 point drop from 6.35% in 2001-02 to 4.71% in 2002-2003, this resulted in a $9 Million Dollar decline in Assessed Valuation for the School District in 2004-2005, the most devastating drop since 1999-2000.

Good Morning, Americans!

Posted on March 2, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR GUIDEPOSTS. March 2, 2009 Reprinted from the Sunday Edition of White Plains CitizeNetReporter :

” Good Morning Americans! This is Paul Harvey. Stand By for News!”

The last of the great, pioneering radio network commentators, Paul Harvey died Saturday at his winter home in Phoenix, ABC Radio reported Saturday night.

Mr. Harvey was on the air until the end of his life. At the end, he was still being heard on WABC Radio in New York and on 1,200 radio stations (with the largest radio audience of any broadcaster, including Rush Limbaugh, 24 million listeners), across America after a career launched in the 1940s. He was known for a news delivery you had to pay attention to when you heard him. Every sentence he spoke lead you beguilingly to his next line of news copy. You simply could not turn Paul Harvey off once you stumbled onto a Harvey broadcast for the first time.

For a personal memoir of Paul Harvey by a man who worked with him, read Peter Katz’s reminisces, below. Let me tell you about Paul Harvey.

When I first heard him I was maybe 11 or 12 years old. He was so unique. Why? He sounded like news… I’ll never forget his delivery…

His delivery recalled the breathless, relentless telegraph edge of the earlier radio legend, Walter Winchell, and captured your attention. Harvey held it by dazzling you with news stories you would hear nowhere else, delivered with inbetween-the-eyes headlines, staccato blow-by-blow detail, and pauses before the killer knockout line that ended the story.

He broke up his cast with headings, “Page 2,” “Page 3,” inbetween segments. He sounded like a newspaper.

“Paul Harvey News and Comment” was news that used words, delivery, and a purring smooth cadence that flowed out of the radio like an UPI teletype machine — rat-a-tat-tat, with ding-ding-ding for bulletins. Paul Harvey was a teletype you listened to. Like a teletype that you would watch mesmerized, you listened to Paul Harvey intently.

Gathering the news events of the day and mixing them in with weird stories from the celebrated Associated Press “B” wire, better known as the bizarre wire, as “changes of pace,” Paul Harvey gave you insights into how Americans lived, persevered, and inspired daily.

His daily broadcasts in the morning and at 12 noon, knit Americans together in the morning, somehow making the sophisticated suburbanite from Westchester feel one with the country crusader, the housewife from Mississippi, or wherever Mr. Harvey found a story that with his uncanny sense of the human psyche that he had, riveted, inspired and celebrated the American spirit.

His broadcasts featured himself reading commercials for unique products delivered in such a homespun style, well, you’d remember that product be it a tractor, a toothpaste, a lawnmower, an ointment, a department store — delivered with a sincerity and taking full advantage of his newsman’s “credibility” to move those products. Paul Harvey could make hog futures sound interesting to a portrait painter. Even if you only had a little yard in Levittown, you felt you wanted to go out and buy a John Deere tractor if you heard Paul Harvey describe it.

He was the last of the giants of network news who inspired trust. In an era when no one today is fair and balanced and blunt (except White Plains Week). Paul Harvey was. He rarely did interviews. In fact I never heard him do one.

He was an editor par excellence. I have not heard him recently, but his unerring sense of picking interesting stories somehow ahead of when the subject would become news, and “repawting” in a tasteful, blunt delivery had a way of never sensationalizing a story, but never underplaying it either, or overselling any point of view or “side” of the story.

Like Walter Cronkite, David Brinkley, Chet Huntley, Douglas Edwards, John Cameron Swayze, John Daley, Walter Kiernan, the great Winchell, Harry Reasoner, Dan Rather — Paul Harvey was a reporter with a nose for news and a feel for what mattered. He balanced the hard with the soft, the inspirational with the melancholy, he reported life in these United States.

For a detailed biography of Mr. Harvey, go to ABC Radio at http://affiliates.abcradionetworks.com/abcradionetworks/paulharveybio.pdf

For a sound bite of Mr. Harvey’s unique newscast, go to http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14149801

His cheery signoff, a quick, uplifting, “Good Day!” was as much a wish for you to have a good day as a goodbye.

Good Day, Mr. Harvey. We hear you still on that old breakfast table radio out on the back porch, on WLS — hearing you as we look across the cornfields, breaking for sandwiches and lemonade in the heat of that blazing noonday sun.

Good-DAY, Paul Harvey.

Posted on March 1, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR Rememberance. Some fleeting thoughts by Peter Katz Co-anchor, White Plains Week. March 1, 2009: For part of the time I was with ABC News, one of my responsibilities was to oversee Paul Harvey’s radio newscasts — a five minute morning drivetime newscast and a 15 minute noontime show. At the time, I was on the management side of the business, in charge of the news programming for ABC Radio’s Entertainment Radio Network. Back then, there were four distinct radio network services originated by ABC. Paul Harvey was “assigned” to my network, and was carried by the approximately 400 stations on that network plus about 800 more stations affiliated with the other three ABC radio networks. Estimates of his cumulative audience ranged from 20-million to 50-million different people listening to at least one of his broadcasts each week. He was the most-listened-to personality in radio.

My office at the time was at the studio facilities at 1926 Broadway, overlooking Lincoln Center. That made it a little easier for me to deal with Paul when upper management had a demand or complaint, since he usually originated his broadcasts from the ABC bureau in Chicago, co-located with station WLS. I could look out the window and enjoy the view of Lincoln Center while on the phone making demands of Chicago bureau manager Meyer Proctor who had to do the dirty work while I took the credit with New York management.

For many years, his broadcasts were introduced as “Paul Harvey News.” However, a lot of the content went far beyond news into the realm of commentary. I felt that the broadcasts should be identified for what they were, and campaigned until the top executives in the news division agreed with me. Paul balked when I proclaimed that from now on his broadcasts were to be identified as “Paul Harvey News and Commentary.” After extended negotiation, he agreed to a double identification in which the word “commentary” would not be used, but the word “comment” would. The announcer said: “Paul Harvey News and Comment brought to you by (sponsor credit). Now, Paul Harvey News.” I don’t know whether identifying the broadcasts as going further than just reporting the news made a difference to anyone but me.

As of the last time I listened, they still were using that introduction, which frequently was voiced by his son, Paul Harvey Jr., acting as the announcer.

Sometimes, Paul would come to New York for business, a shopping trip with his wife Lynne (he called her Angel, which is how she was known to his audience), or a television appearance. When he originated his radio shows from New York, I had to be there at 5 a.m., to be sure he had whatever he needed, and to act as his editor. He wrote his own newscasts. In one sentence, he could tell a complex story that would take others two or three paragraphs. He was the best writer in the business, and the best story teller. His copy seldom needed editing, although I do remember questioning some of his facts on occasion. His conservative views were a given, and sometimes he did bend the facts a bit. But, his style and content were aimed west of the Hudson. Whenever I did actually uncover a factual error, he was grateful. There was no “star” act when in a working newsroom, even though he was of “star” status as a revenue producer for the network and household name in so many households.

His newscasts were notable for carrying stories you never heard anywhere else. He got a lot of his material from what’s called the “B” wire. These were secondary Associated Press and United Press International wires which carried feature and human interest stories, and the lesser hard news stories of the day. He also received a steady stream of local newspaper clippings from friends, listeners and local radio station operators around the country.

Paul was very health conscious in what he ate. He was big on a lunch consisting of a banana with peanut butter.

From time to time he and Angel would go on vacation to their house in Carefree, Arizona. He would originate his shows from the garage which had been converted into a radio studio. When it was my turn to go out there, I stayed in luxury at the Carefree Inn, driving to his house in the middle of the night. He treated me like a relative who had come to town for a visit, wanting to be sure I got to the “cowboy” steak places, and talking at length about the architecture of the house they had designed to blend in with the desert. I still remember the pride with which Paul and Angel showed off the rock outcropping (boulder) which grew from the floor of their master bedroom.

Although Paul was doing guest shots on the t-v talk shows and an occasional news commentary, he wasn’t doing any regular television at the time. I had an idea and worked with a Chicago writer named Bob Allen to develop a proposal for a television series to be called “Paul Harvey’s America.” It would each week present stories of people who have achieved something for their communities or the country, combined with travelog segments of unusual and interesting things to see here in the U.S. We tried selling it to top ABC management, who eventually turned it down. So did the other networks. The program syndicators weren’t interested, but soon thereafter Paul Harvey signed to do a daily commentary segment which was syndicated to stations in many markets and ran for a couple of years.

White Plainsians Speak Out on the School Budget.

Posted on February 28, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR MR.and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains Poll. February 28, 2009: The school budget remains a mystery at this time, since the district does not know what the final Assessment Roll — due out Monday morning– will be. However the vast number of assessment challenges (855) filed this year — virtually 4 times the last year total would indicate the School Assessment Roll will decline from the $288.4 level reported out. This will mean that the tax rate currently configured to be $513 per $1,000 of assessed valuation — worst case about $517 per $1,000 of Assessed Valuation.

The School District is also anticipating a $2.5 Million in education aid — not figured into the present budget. The preliminary budget since it does not match up expected revenues against expenses is actually misleading. Because if the revenues do not cover the $185.9 Million budget– the tax rate will have to increase beyond the rate WPCNR has estimated it will take to cover the assessment shortfall.

WPCNR has also figured that by the City of White Plains own prediction of about an $11 Million shortfall in revenues for the present year,08-09, that the city tax will have to go up in 09-10 to cover all the union contracts if they award increases, and if department cuts presently being scrambled for, are not carried over into 09-10, and if the sales tax dips this year instead of increasing as it is expected to decrease, a sharp increase of about $1,000, pending whatever budget magic the city casts on their budget, might happen.

Say if the city keeps the budget the same you are still looking at about a tax increase between city, county and school taxes. And, looking to the future of the school district budget, sure to face a precipitous plummet in assessed value next year due to the trends now accelerated, it might behoove the school district to cut more out of this year’s budget to keep the present tax increase at 2%. That given the case, would does Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains think about some of these options. Let us know by voting in the survey at the right:

Police Following up Leads in Stop N Shop Robbery

Posted on February 28, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. February 28, 2009: The Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety reports as of Saturday that White Plains police are following up leads that have come in on possible suspects in the $6,000 bank robbery at the Stop N Shop last Monday morning. Daniel Jackson issued this statement to WPCNR Saturday:

Nothing concrete. We’re investigating a couple of leads that have come in, however no arrests have been made as of now.

Persons who might recognize this man — captured on video surveillance camera committing the robbery should contact Police at 914-422-6111, your confidentiality will be protected.

CRIMESTOPPERS: Do you recognize this man, shown committing the Stop N Shop robber last Monday? If you do or have information on his whereabouts, contact White Plains Police, 422-6111, in confidence.

Haviland Lane Hit and Run Suspect Indicted by Grand Jury

Posted on February 28, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From the Office of the Westchester County District Attorney. February 28, 2009: Lucien Chalfen, spokesperson for Westchester County District Attorney announced yesterday that aWestchester County Grand Jury had voted to charge Sheldene Campbell with felonies, in connection with the hit and run death of Marie Bucci, a resident of the Haviland Manor neighborhood in White Plains, and the hit-and-run injuries suffered by another resident of the same neighborhood on October 19. Chalfen reported Campbell would be arraigned on the new charges in mid-March. Chaldene is being held on $200,000 bail in the Westchester County Jail.

Fortunoff Posts Living “Going Out of Business Signs”

Posted on February 27, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Roving Reporter. February 27, 2009: The White Plains Fortunoff, the apple of Mayor Delfino’s eye, his crowning achievement next to the City Center and Ritz Carlton hotel which he brought to White Plains has confirmed worst fears: Fortunoff has “Going Out of Business” signs being carried by one billboard man today as of 11:45 A.M.

Ever since National Jeweler reported Fortunoff had filed unemployment notices with the State Department of Labor two weeks ago acknowledging the White Plans store was being closed, speculation was that Fortunoff White Plains would close. Today, a lone billboard man carrying a Going Out of Business sign was confirming that indeed the Fortunoff era, lasting just 5-1/2 years. Plans for the space as yet are not known at this time. Photo by the WPCNR Roving Photographer

Glen Hockley Receives His Requested Salary Cut Monday.

Posted on February 27, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. From City Hall. February 27, 2009: The Common Council swings into action Monday evening. The highlight of the meeting will be an ordinance reducing Coucilman Glen Hockley’s salary by 10%, the legality of which in view of the city charter prohibition that salaries may not be changed once a fiscal year has begun, is one for legal scholars to debate. Passing of such ordinance may create an intriguing precedent for councils in the future. Requests for such a justification from City Hall in view of the Charter provision, have so far not been responded to.

Councilman Glen Hockley at the podium. Monday Night the Council votes on an ordinance to lower Mr. Hockley’s salary on his request. However he is the only Councilperson to request a salary cut in light of the city’s reported $11 Million revenue lag. File Photo, WPCNR News Archive

Also on the agenda are extension of a site plan for the Kensington assisted living project adjacent to the Lexington Avenue Garage for 60 days. Another item of interest is a resolution raising building department and planning department fees for reviews of builder requests. The rest of the agenda follows:

COMMON COUNCIL
AGENDA
REGULAR STATED MEETING
MARCH 2, 2009
7:30 P.M.

PLEDGE TO THE FLAG: Hon. Glen Hockley

INVOCATION:                               Rev. Urla Eversley
                                        White Plains Presbyterian Church

ROLL CALL:                                        City Clerk

EMPLOYEE OF                               Richard Kasten
OF THE MONTH:                      Help Desk Coordinator
                                               Information Services

RECOGNITION:                Government Finance Officers Association
                                   Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

APPOINTMENTS:

1. Communication from the Council President in relation to the re-appointments of Robert Rosten, Andrew Berger and J. Roger Carlson to the Conservation Board.

PUBLIC HEARING:

2. Public Hearing on a request submitted by White Plains Kensington, LLC, for a sixty day extension of the due diligence period for the closing date on an amendment to the Contract of Sale of Land for Private Redevelopment between the City, the White Plains Urban Renewal Agency and Kensington to no later than March 31, 2009.

3. Communication from Executive Director, Urban Renewal Agency

FIRST READING
ORDINANCES:

4. Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. C5320 White Plains Public Library Exterior Windows.

5. Communication from Environmental Officer

6. Environmental Findings Resolution

7. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains to amend the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. C5320 entitled, Library Exterior Windows.

8. Bond Ordinance authorizing the issuance of $600,000 bonds of the City of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, to pay part of the $603,000 estimated maximum cost of the replacement and rehabilitation of the windows of the White Plains Public Library, in and for said City.

9. Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to a request submitted on behalf of Little Mt. Zion Holy Church, for a revokable license agreement with the City to construct a plaza that will encroach upon the public right-of-way adjacent to 230 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

10. Communications from Design Review Board

11. Commissioner of Planning

12. Planning Board

13. Commissioner of Public Safety

14. Commissioner of Public Works

15. Commissioner of Traffic

16. Traffic Commission

17. Commissioner of Parking

18. Environmental Officer

19. Environmental Findings Resolution

20. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the Commissioner of Public Works to enter into a revocable license agreement with Little Mt. Zion Holy Church to permit encroachment upon City rights-of-way in connection with improvements to the existing Church building at 230 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.

21. Communication from Commissioner of Public Safety in relation to an amendment to Chapter 4-15 of the White Plains Municipal Code to extend the $1.00 per trip temporary fuel surcharge for taxis.

22. Ordinance amending Article IV of Sections 4-15-71 of Chapter 4-15 of the White Plains Municipal Code, Taxicabs, with respect to temporary fuel surcharge.

23. Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to the establishment of a Fee Schedule for various programs and camps for Fiscal Year 2009 – 2010.

24. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains establishing a Fee Schedule for various programs and camps organized and operated by the Youth Bureau for Fiscal Year 2009 – 2010.

25. Communication from Commissioner of Finance transmitting a request from Councilman Hockley for a ten percent (10%) waiver of salary.

26. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains granting the request made by Hon. Glen Hockley for a ten percent (10%) waiver of his salary of $36,471 as a Council Member to take effect for the City’s payroll period ending February 6, 2009.

27. Communication from Personnel Officer in relation to an amendment to the Municipal Code and the 2008 – 2009 Table of Organization by adding and abolishing certain positions.

28. Ordinance amending the 2008 – 2009 Table of Organization by adding and abolishing certain positions.

29. Communication from Chairman, Traffic Commission, in relation to proposed amendments to the Traffic Ordinance at various locations around the City.

30. Ordinance amending the Traffic Ordinance of the City of White Plains in relation to “U” Turns.

RESOLUTIONS:

31. Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to the scheduling of a public hearing for April 6, 2009 on an application submitted on behalf of Prophecy for a one (1) year renewal of a Special Permit for Cabaret Use at 15 South Broadway.

32. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains scheduling a public hearing for April 6, 2009 in relation to the application submitted on behalf of Prophecy for a one (1) year renewal of a Special Permit to operate a cabaret at 15 South Broadway.

33. Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to the scheduling of a public hearing for April 6, 2009 on an application submitted on behalf of the MAK Restaurant Corp., d/b/a Elements, for a one (1) year Special Permit for Cabaret Use at 161 Mamaroneck Avenue.

34. Communication from Commissioner of Building

35. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains scheduling a public hearing for April 6, 2009 in relation to the application submitted on behalf of the MAK Restaurant Corp. for a one (1) year Special Permit to operate a cabaret at Elements located at 161 Mamaroneck Avenue.

36. Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to the scheduling of a public hearing for April 6, 2009 on an application submitted by Tri-Kelly Inc., d/b/a Kelly’s Pub & Grill and The Thirsty Turtle, for a three (3) year renewal of a Special Permit for Cabaret Use at 199-201 East Post Road.

37. Communication from Commissioner of Building

38. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains scheduling a public hearing for April 6, 2009 in relation to the application submitted by Tri-Kelly Inc., d/b/a Kelly’s Pub & Grill and The Thirsty Turtle for a three (3) year renewal of a Special Permit to allow the operation of a Cabaret Use at 199-201 East Post Road.

39. Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to a proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains at Section 11.5 with respect to fees charged for applications made in pursuant to Sections 6, 7, 9.5, 10.3.5, 10.3.6, and 10.3.7 of the Ordinance.

40. Communications from Planning Board

41. City Clerk

42. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains scheduling a public hearing for April 6, 2009 in relation to an ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance with respect to establishing new and increasing existing fees charged for applications made pursuant, inter alia, to Sections 6, 7, 9.5, 10.3.5, 10.3.6 and 10.3.7 of the Zoning Ordinance.

43. Communication from Commissioner of Planning in relation to the scheduling of a public hearing for April 6, 2009 on the 2009 Section 8 Housing Assistance Program Annual Plan.

44. Resolution scheduling a public hearing on the 2009 Section 8 Housing Assistance Program Annual Plan.

45. Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to a request submitted on behalf of The Metropolitan at White Plains, LLC., for a one year extension of a previously approved site plan of a residential development at the property located at the corner of Maple and DeKalb Avenues.

46. Communications from Design Review Board

47. Commissioner of Planning

48. Planning Board

49. Commissioner of Public Safety

50. Commissioner of Public Works

51. Commissioner of Traffic

52. Traffic Commission

53. Commissioner of Parking

54. Westchester County Planning Board

55. Environmental Officer

56. Environmental Findings Resolution

57. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains extending for an additional one (1) year the Special Permit/Site Plan Approval originally granted on February 6, 2006 to BNE Investors, LLC (“Applicant”), and extended for one (1) year by resolutions adopted March 3, 2007 and June 2, 2008, to construct a new multi-family condominium residence (89 units) to be located at the corner of Maple and DeKalb Avenues, to be known as the “Metropolitan” (A) to increase the height of the proposed development from six (6) stories/90 feet to twelve (12) stories/125 feet for the RM-0.35 Zoning District under Footnote (N) of Section 5.3 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains (Schedule of Dimensional Regulations: Residential) and (B) the proposed exchange of approximately 6,108 square feet of City-owned land adjacent to the northern property line of the project site on Maple Avenue for an approximately 3,990 square foot parcel of land adjacent to the southerly property line of the project site, on which the Applicant, at its own cost and expense, will construct and thereafter secure a publicly usable neighborhood open space and ( C) compensation to the City for the difference in value of the City-owned land to be conveyed and the value of the land to be donated to the City in exchange, such value to be adjusted for any easements and restrictions appertaining to the parcels.

REFERRAL:

58. Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to a request submitted on behalf of Cameo House, 300 Martine Avenue, for an amendment to a Special Permit/Site Plan for proposed alterations to the ground floor entrance courtyard

59. Communication from the City Clerk in relation to a petition submitted on behalf of of BMS Management Corp., to amend the Zoning Ordinance to allow the parking of commercial vehicles at motor vehicle service stations and/or repair shops in the BR-1 Districts.

60. Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to a request submitted by Goldfarb Properties on behalf of White Plains One Company, LLC, for a site plan amendment for exterior courtyard renovations at The Churchill Apartments, 345 Main Street.

ITEMS FOR INFORMATION:

61. Communication from Commissioner of Finance transmitting the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2008.

Bankruptcy Court Clears Way for Fortunoff Liquidation. Fate of WP Fort Uncertain

Posted on February 26, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. February 26, 2009: Judge Robert Drain of the Southern District of New York Bankruptcy Court approved a bid by seven liquidation companies to begin the immediate liquidation of Fortunoff Holdings Ltd., at Fortunoff stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennyslvania and Connecticut beginning yesterday, the news service Reuters reports. Fortunoff Gift Card holders and those who have returned merchandise for a credit prior to February 25, purchased at Fortunoff stores throughout the metropolitan area would be honored only until March 8.

The ruling says the going out of business sales would affect all Fortunoff stores, that would presumably include the White Plains location. The fate of whether the White Plains Fortunoff has another retail operation waiting in the wings is not known.

Sources familiar with the Fortunoff operations in White Plains have told WPCNR the White Plains location did not live up to revenue expectations. The City of White Plains had projected Fortunoff’s to do $100,000,000 in sales the first year (2003), but the new location only brought in $67,000,000., approximately $1.3 Million in sales taxes at the former 2% sales tax rate. More recent figures were not disclosed.

$1,700 Tax UP for Avg Home, Betw City School County. Budget Forum Skeptical

Posted on February 25, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. February 25, 2009 UPDATED 4:16 P.M. E.S.T. UPDATED February 26, 2009 11:35 A.M. EST : The Board of Education unveiled its “Austerity Budget,” Wednesday evening to mixed reactions at the high school. The public as a whole did not demand more cuts in the Preliminary School Budget set at $185.9 Million, (the lowest year-to-year increase in thirteen years), but mainly asked questions that demonstrated a lack of familiarity with district expenses. Main concern focused on cutting teachers and teacher aids.

The Superintendent of Schools said that if the School Budget were voted down, the district could choose to offer another vote, or lower the budget at the Board’s discretion but were prevented from putting out a budget higher than any budget the district votes down. It was pointed out that the current expense budget is .81% higher than the budget last year. And, the Contingency Budget believed to be allowed this year would enable a 4% year-to-year increase.

Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors background with microphone and Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred Seiler, foreground fielding questions from about 150 persons last night at the second Community Budget Forum.

The Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors would not report the number of teacher, administrator, custodial and secretarial cuts in personnel until he said he shared the specific cuts with the schools. A teachers union representative, Joan Traber said the district had not shared the exact number of cuts of teachers and assistants with the Teachers Union going into the second round of state-mediated negotiations today. The Superintendent said a possible settlement was planned for in the new budget, and it would not have to be increased with any settlement.

In response to an angry tax payer surprised by the stealth cut in STAR Exemptions last spring that cost White Plains taxpayers unanticipated taxes , the Superintendent said as soon as the district received word from New York State as to cuts in the STAR BASIC and ENHANCED Exemptions (that lower home assessed values reducing property taxes) he would share that with the public.

Fred Seiler, the Assistant Superintendent for Business said the school district anticipated a $2.5 Million cut in education aid. He also made a point that a 1% expense increase did not translate into a 1% tax increase, which Seiler admitted would drive the tax rate up. Seiler said the district anticipated lower assessed Value. His point was that though the district had only raised their budget less than 1%, that taxes would still be going up due to declining school aid, declining revenues from assessments.

He also said that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority proposal to tax school districts, if enacted, would cost the White Plains district an additional $325,000 plus added to the budget. That, WPCNR computes, would move the year-to-year budget increase up to .9% from the .81%

The Superintendent noted the school district is seeing an increase in enrollment at the kindergarten and the high school levels from private schools as the economy deteriorates. He also stated that the Emerging Scholars Program, originally given to WPCNR on a list of summer programs to be eliminated two weeks ago, was not going to be eliminated.

The budget presently is $1.5 Million higher (0.8% higher) than the 08-09 budget. This is the lowest school budget year-to-year increase since 1995 when the budget was $87.8 Million and increased only 1.94% .

For a more complex analysis of the Preliminary Budget published earlier this week follows.

In the thirteen years since, the school budget has more than doubled to the suggest $185.9 Million made public Monday evening, a .81% increase, increasing the tax rate an estimated $11 per $1,000 of assessed value by WPCNR estimates before the district considers its 09-10 revenues, giving a tax increase of approximately $150 for the $500,000 to $700,000 home, and substantially more over $200 and up for homes valued higher than $700,000.

The $4.3 Million in cuts the school district made from the $190.3 Million submitted are mainly layoffs, attrition and retirements amounting to about 30 persons based on an estimate of $100,000 in salary and benefits for each person whether they be teacher, secretary, custodian or teaching aid.

The Superintendent of Schools has declined to reveal the number of persons who will lose jobs, will be retiring, or whatever, if these are real people or not. For years the district has been told you can’t cut teachers without reducing teacher-student rations and thus increasing class size.

Well this year, the district said Monday, they can. It raises the question of why more personnel cannot be cut, why suddenly after years of increases of 6 and 7% the district can suddenly lop off their essential overhead.

WPCNR’s Math Lab says it all depends on where the city assessment roll ends up after the record number of assessment challenges. Depending on how the City Board of Assessment Review rules on the current assessment roll, stopped for the moment at 288.4 Million, $3.3 Million less than last year’s $291.7 Million roll. Because the Preliminary Budget announced Monday night is $1.5 Million higher, it amplifies the assessment decline by another million and change that has to be made up by the tax rate.

No handle on Revenues

The school district significantly has not estimated “revenues” yet. All they have done is look at expenses. The Assessment Roll at $288.4 Million means they are down in tax base (last year, $291.4 Million) creating a $1.6 Million revenue shortfall. They have chosen to add $1.5 Million to the budget, so they need to “find”$3.1 Million in revenue, and this is before they get the word on what state education aid will be cut.

Going into tonight’s meeting, WPCNR estimates that if state aid remains the same as last year, which is doubtful, the district has to make up a minimum of $3.3 Million in revenue from the taxpayers, just based on the documented assessment roll decline, prior to the assessment roll being set in stone March 2.

For the School District to make up the $3.3 Million just from the drop in the Assessment, plus the $1.5 Million more in spending programs the tax rate needs to increase to $513 and change per $1,000 of assessed valuation from the current rate of $503 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

This will mean for the average house assessed at $15,145 of assessed value (about a $650,000-$700,000 home) an automatic tax increase of $166 ($7,784 compared to $7618 this year) . If your assessment is $20,000 you’re going up $220. ($10,280 compared to $10,060)

PROPOSED STEALTH STAR BASIC AND ENHANCED CUTS INCREASE TAX IMPACT DISCREETLY

If, however the STAR BASIC and ENHANCED EXEMPTIONS are reduced 18% as planned by Governor David Paterson, your assessed value will go up – even though your assessment remains the same.

As WPCNR pointed out exclusively in 2008 when the legislature secretly lowered the BASIC and ENHANCED Stars to pay for increased state education aid restoration, the Governor’s office is planning this again in 2009-10. According to Assemblyman Adam Bradley, the Assembly is fighting this proposal, so at least the Assembly and presumably the State Senate know about it. They professed not to know of the 10% cut in the Basics and Enchanceds last year.

This year on the $650,000 to $700,000 home, should the STARs be cut 18%, this will mean your assessment goes up automatically $731 – (I know this is complicated but bare with the CitizeNetReporter here) – lowering the amount you can deduct from your assessment and therefore increasing your property tax.

Here’s how it works for the $650,000 to $700,000 home if you’re under 65, when this year you enjoyed, as did all homes in White Plains and the state, a $3,330 STAR BASIC EXEMPTION.

If the Governor has his way, your exemption will be cut to $2,731. Deduct this from your $18,475 Assessed Value and your assessed value is not $15,145 as it is this year, but $15,744.

State Taxes an Additional $599 in Assessed Value.

The Bottom line WPCNR Math Lab School Tax Calculator (pending other revenue cuts or revenue additions) then places your increased school tax at $8,092, ($514 per $1,000 of assessed value times 15.744), this means, pending revenue projections by the school district your school tax for the $700,000 home will go from $7,618 to $8,092, a tax increase of $474.

If your assessment is $20,000 of assessed value it increases to $20,600 increasing your school tax to $10,588 from $10,280 – that is an extra $308 in tax – if the 18% goes through.

For Seniors STAR ENHANCED CUT adds $588 to their 09-10 Tax In addition

The impact on seniors of an 18% STAR ENHANCED CUT is brutal.

This year the Senior Enhanced exemptions for homeowners over 65 was $6,500. If the Governor’s program to lower the exemption floor 18% is adopted, the senior Enhanced STAR Exemption declines $1,170 to $5,330 they may deduct from your assessed value.

In our mythical $650,000 to $700,000 home, with an assessment of $18,475, the senior has $5,330 he or she can deduct giving them an assessed value of $13,145. They pay a new school tax of $6,756 (13.1 times the new tax rate of $514) instead of $6,168.

The 18% reduction in the Enhanced STAR delivers to seniors over 65 an automatic increase of $588 on top of the $6,152 they pay at the straight predicted $514 per thousand rate.

So the district residents attending tonight have to cross their fingers that the state education aid will not change (in this case, go lower).

Bottom line, going into the state budget deliberations for 09-10, you have to hope that STAR EXEMPTION cut gets stricken or eased somewhat, otherwise the impact will deliver a more taxing blow.

The Tax Impact Overall.

Updating the WPCNR tax outlook published last week: here is how the tax increases for each taxable authority impact the $650,000 to $700,000 homeowner in White Plains with a house assessed at $15,145 assessed value.

SCHOOL TAX: $7,784

CITY TAX (WITH $167M BUDGET: $4,000

COUNTY TAX: $2,400

TOTAL ESTIMATED 2009-10 TAX BILL ($700,000 HOME): $14,284

TOTAL 2009-2009 TAX BILL: $12,600

YOUR YEAR TO YEAR TAX INCREASE: $1,684*

This could be reduced if the city or the school districted reduced their budgets from the School District $185.9 Million, and if the city cut their present budget from $161.7 Million, and did not roll it over to $167 Million to cover projected deficits and sales tax shortfalls. There is still time for frugal financial management by the city and the school district to lower their budget.