WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER 3,374,995 VISITS IN ONE YEAR—65,000 VISITS A WEEK BY 985,281 VISITORS

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. April 17, 2008 UPDATED April 19, 2008 5 PM EDT:  As first reported Friday by WPCNR, the New York State  Office of Real Property Services has recalculated the residential Basic STAR Tax Exemption for towns and municipalities and counties across New York State, and in the process has reduced the White Plains homeowners Basic STAR exemption, automatically raising Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains school tax automatically by 2% .

State Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley, speaking with WPCNR today said he had no idea the new ORPS Basis STAR amount for White Plains until it was enacted last Monday, April 14. (See story above.) Bradley said the ORPS action was independent of the legislature which had nothing to do with the resulting 2% (approximate raise in the White Plains School Tax.

If the White Plains City School District is not already aware of this STAR cut, they will be pleased to know they will receive an additional $3.2 Million in school property taxes In White Plains, courtesy of the unknowing taxpayer. Pictured is the Albany Assembly which last week  with Senate approval agave $1.4 Million in additional state aid to the district to “cut” taxes to 6%. Then on Monday, April 14, the Office of Real Property Services cut the Basic STAR Exemption $370 costing the typical White Plains taxpayer an additional 2%.  

The state STAR “cut”  it has reduced the  BASIC STAR Deduction of the White Plains homeowner and thousands of others across Westchester County by similar amounts. The White Plains homeowner finds their BASIC STAR cut to $3,330,  according to the NYSORPS website. The $3.2 Million this cut will bring the school district is in addition to the $1.4 Million in additional state aid the school district complimented legislators Adam Bradley, Suzi Oppenheimer and Amy Paulin for advocating for the district Monday evening.

Now Possibly the SchoolTax Increase is 8% — Not 6%

That $1.4 Million was credited with reducing the tax rate so that White Plains taxpayers would only have to pay an additional 6% in property taxes, which with the new “cut” in the BASIC STAR now computes to an 8% tax increase.

The effect increases the White Plains residential homeowner’s accessible market value $370 (1.8%) cutting the deduction off your accessible value  to $3,350  in the coming tax year of 2008-2009 from the higher deduction  White Plains taxpayers enjoyed in 2007-2008 when the Basic STAR exemption was $3,700. You will not know this if you check the Office of Real Property Services website  because the NYSORPS does not indicate the amount of change in the exemption.  The homeowner pays about 2% more — but it means $3.2 Million more to the school district.

Mr. and Mrs. Median WP Home Bottom Line Goes Down

If you own a $700,000 home, accessed at $18,475 in 2007-2008, when your STAR exemption reduced your taxable value to $14,775, your taxable value goes up to $15,125. At the new School Tax Rate of $503.01 per $1,000, your School Tax in 2008-2009 will go up to $7,608 – an additional $167 over the tax increase in the proposed school budget.

The $167 represents an additional 2.2% increase in your school tax for this median home – unless of course, the school district knew about the increase in advance and figured the increase into the budget. WPCNR is attempting to find this out. The school district made references to possible changes in the STAR, but passed the budget anyway Monday evening.

8% PLUS Tax Increase in Reality?

If the STAR Exemption cut was not figured into the present White Plains School budget of $184.4 Million budget, then the publicized 5.98% (6%) tax increase is incorrect. With the state quietly cutting the STAR Exemption, the actual tax increase is 8.18% more than double the rate of inflation recognized by the state (3.35%)

If this STAR Exemption was not known to the Board of Education before Monday evening, it means that,  in addition to the White Plains School Tax increase of 6% adopted Monday by the Board of Education, the typical White Plains homeowner will pay an additional 2%. WPCNR News is attempting to ascertain if the School District was informed of this by the state. Our information is that they were not.

The statewide action was taken by the Office of Real Property Services on Monday, one day before the tax deadline, and depending on the locale in which you live, you may be receiving more exemption or less.

White Plains is getting less.

The action is now forcing the City of White Plains and all municipalities across the state to refigure the School Property Tax STAR Exemption. The new STAR rates were made public April 14 (Monday), and not reported in the media  April 14  was also the day the White Plains City School District adopted their proposed budget of $184.4 Million which calls for a 5.98% tax increase and a 5.95% increase in the budget.

The effect escalates as the value of your home goes up.

Here is the WPCNR Tax Ladder, we demonstrated two days ago adjusted for the new Basic STAR Cut.

ESTIMATED NEW WHITE PLAINS SCHOOL TAX LADDER WITH BASIC STAR CUT

                                                                                                                                                     STAR

VALUE OF HOME        Average Assessment     School Tax   W/City Cty Tax            CUT

                                                                                                                                             TAX INCREASE

$2 Million                           42.2 Gs                       $21,651                      $33,424                  +$424

$1.5 Million                       31.6Gs                         $16,352                     $25,352                  +$352

$1 Million                          21.1Gs                         $10,833                      $16,733                 +$233

700G                                  15Gs                               $7,608                      $12,767                +$178

400G                                  8.5Gs                             $4,372                      $6,655                   +$94

·         These figures are estimates only, and relate only to White Plains.  All homes are assessed differently. To figure out your tax bill subtract $3,370 from your 2007-2008 Tax Assessment and multiple the result by $503.01.

The Westchester STAR Exemptions, 2008-2009, provided on the New York State Office of Real Property Services website  http://www.orps.state.ny.us/star/ex/index.htm ,  do not indicate the amount of difference (plus or minus) in 2008-2009, from 2007-2008 STAR Exemption.

To determine how your Westchester County community is affected, examine your own tax bill, subtract the amount under Basic STAR from last year’s (2007-2008) assessed value. The Enhanced STAR is for families who make less than $60,000 a year, while most homeowners only qualify for the Basic STAR exemption

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WPCNR The Housing News. By John F. Bailey. April 17, 2008: Mayor Joseph Delfino and Geoffrey Anderson, Executive Director of Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc. announced a joint program today to provide counseling, budgeting and information to White Plains homeowners faced with the inability to pay their mortgages. In the course of the news conference the Mayor said 86 homeowners, mostly in the Fisher Hill and Battle Hill areas of the city faced renegotiation of subprime mortgages to fixed rate mortgages in the next three months. The program is being called White Plains Initiative to Save Equity. It also calls for the city to furnish a part-time counselor selected by WRO to aid White Plains homeowners exclusively.

Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains, with Geoffrey Anderson, left, Executive Director of Westchester Residential Opportunities, Inc., left, and to  the right, Nicole Aulotta and Cynthia Grillo of Hudson States Bank, announcing the Mayor’s WISE intiative today at City Hall

Mayor Delfino advised the gathering that White Plains homes facing foreclosure in the first quarter of 2008 numbered 28, and that the County Clerk, Timothy Idoni has confirmed that the wrong zip codes were used in figuring the number to be 54, as the County Clerk’s office advised the news media previously. Hudson States Bank which has worked with the White Plains Planning Department in funding rehabilitation of homes in White Plains, will also provide counseling and analysis on an individual case-by-case basis. When  asked if the bank would provide bridge loans or financial aid, the Commissioner of Planning said it depended on the individual homeowner’s case.

Residents interested in Westchester Residential Opportunities counseling on mortgage problems they face can contact WRO at 914-668-4424, extension 301, or 428-4507, extension 316.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Board of Legislators. April 15, 2008: Chairman of the County Board of Legislators Bill Ryan (D, IN, WF-White Plains) today announced $1.84 million in funding for a major upgrade to Post Road in White Plains – the western “gateway” into the city’s downtown.

The latest work along Post Road will include milling and resurfacing of the asphalt roadway and installation of reflective pavement markings on the roadway from the Scarsdale Village line to Mamaroneck Avenue. The Bond Act, which was approved by the County Board at its last meeting, will also fund the cost of the design, project management and construction.

“In recent years, the County Board has worked to improve the look and condition of the major roads to the downtown,” said Ryan, whose legislative district includes White Plains and Scarsdale. “We’ve ensured that roadway, street-scaping and landscaping are done in a way that beautifies White Plains. So when these jobs are complete, we’ll have nice looking streets that really say ‘welcome to our city’.”

Chairman Ryan said “similar capital infrastructure projects in White Plains, our “city in the park,” have included sidewalk and curb work along Post Road, as well as a grass median for Bryant Avenue substantial improvements to Mamaroneck Avenue and Old Mamaroneck Road. These road improvements are enhanced by outstanding community efforts such as those of the White Plains Beautification Foundation. The Foundation has been of help in designing road upgrade projects and by planting trees and gardens along the “gateways.”

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. April 14, 2008: Suprintendent of Schools Timothy Connors, citing a report by Anne Lillis, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services, announced the School District investigated 93 cases of alleged illegal students not official residents of White Plains in 2006-2007 and found 16 to be Non-Residents.

In the current 2007-2008 school year, Connors said 89 alleged illegal students claiming to be White Plains residents have been investigated, and 12 have been found to be non-residents, with 36 found to be legal residents of the city.

Connors said the district employs a private investigator to look into students who have been reported as being possible attendees of White Plains schools illegally. The report notes that such residency cases are brought to the district attention by five means:

1. Returned mail.

2. Suspicion by school persoinnel.

3. Anonymous calls from the public.

4. Through checking of “Residency Affidavits.” For example, if a family moves to White Plains and resides with another family, they must complete a “Residency Affidavit.” Each of these affidavits are investigated before we (the district before we (the district) will register the children. If it is not clear-cut that the family resides here, a residency case is opened and an investigation conducted to determine residency.

5. Through the checking of “Care, Custody and Control Affidavits”. If a family is surrendering the care, custody and control of their child(ren) to another person residing in White Plains, and it is not court-ordered, a “Care, Custody and Control Affidavit” must be completed. These affidavits are subject to district approval based on State Education Laws.

Connors noted that the exclusion of the 28 students would result in considerable savings to the district.

At $26,000 per student to educate an individual in the White Plains schools, the exclusion of the 28 students should result in a savings to the district of approximately $728,000.

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            WPCNR THE REALTY REPORT. From the Westchester County Clerk’s Office. April 13, 2008: At the beginning of April, Westchester County Clerk Timothy C. Idoni released figures showing a “significant increase in foreclosure filings” in the county. The County Clerk  urges Westchester residents who may be at risk of foreclosure, to seek help immediately. 

           “We want Westchester residents to be able to live comfortably in our county, but the first quarter of 2008, which ended on March 31^st, brought with it another significant increase in foreclosure filings,” the release quotes  Idoni. 

           “And more disturbing than the increase in foreclosure filings is the increase in the number of actions resulting in a judgment of foreclosure,” said Idoni.  “Comparing judgments from the first quarters of 2007 and 2008, shows an increase of 80 percent,” continued Idoni.   “Westchester residents need our help.” 

Locally in White Plains forclosure actions statistics begun in the first quarter of 2008, jumped 54%.

Idoni urged residents facing foreclosure or having problems meeting their mortgage obligations to consider investigating the following steps and to avoid “foreclosure rescuers”: 

Attend Operation Protect Your Home:  The New York State Senate Westchester Delegation is sponsoring “Operation Protect Your Home” on Saturday, April 5^th from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Roosevelt High School, 631 Tuckahoe Road in Yonkers.  There will be various educational seminars throughout the day as well as opportunities to meet with mortgage counselors.

Contact Westchester Residential Opportunities (WRO):  WRO is a non-profit housing agency with offices in White Plains and Mount Vernon.   Call one of their trained counselors at 428-4507 or visit their website at www.wroinc.org to see how they can help you.

Contact the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):  Contact HUD to obtain the name of a reputable counseling agency by visiting www.hud.gov or calling 1-800-569-4287.

·         If you have been served with foreclosure papers, understand that you can still get help.  The commencement of a foreclosure action does not mean that a Westchester home will be lost to foreclosure.  Many homeowners enter into a repayment plan, secure a modified loan, refinance with another lender or sell their home on their own to avoid foreclosure.  Do not give up.  Instead, take advantage of the resources outlined above.

·         Beware of foreclosure rescue scams.  Unfortunately the current foreclosure climate brings with it a new set of con artists just waiting to take advantage of residents who are under the stress of foreclosure action.  Making a bad situation worse can be avoided by relying on a reputable counseling agency or a trusted attorney to guide you through the process.

Foreclosure Actions Commenced and Judged — Last four Years.

1^st Quarter Foreclosure Statistics for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008

Annual Foreclosures Month by Month In Westchester County for 2005, 2006 and 2007