WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR BACKROOM BULLETIN. By John F. Bailey. April 3, 2009: WPCNR has confirmed through sources familiar with the Democratic City Committee that the Nominating Committee under Zelle Andrews has selected Thomas Roach, incumbent Councilperson to run for reelection for a third term, David Buchwald, resident of The Seasons Condominium in the downtown, and Beth Smayda of the Highlands have been selected by the Nominating Committee to be presented to the City Committee on April 20.

The nominations mean that incumbent councilperson Glen Hockley has been denied the opportunity to run for reelection by the Democratic City Committee. Hockley is the second elected councilperson in three years  the Democratic City Committee has denied the opportunity to run for reelection by the people of the city. The other was Arnold Bernstein in 2007.

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WPCNR THE DEVELOPER NEWS. From North Street Community. April 2, 2009 UPDATED 12:30 A.M. E.D.T. April 3: North Street Community announced today that it has signed a joint venture agreement with The Engel Burman Group to develop an assisted living community at the former St. Agnes Hospital in White Plains.

Dean Bender, spokesperson for North Street Community told WPCNR Thursday evening construction was planned to begin on the former hospital building renovation in late fall or winter of this year.

The Engel Burman Group is a full service real estate company that owns, constructs and manages industrial, office, retail and residential properties throughout the eastern seaboard of the United States. The privately held company developed and operates The Bristal Assisted Living communities with locations in Westbury, East Meadow, North Hills, Massapequa, Lynbrook and North Woodmere, New York.

“We are excited about the opportunity to convert St. Agnes Hospital into a first-class assisted living community providing a much needed service to the residents of White Plains and the surrounding areas,” said Jan Burman, President of The Engel Burman Group.

North Street Community’s plan calls for adaptively redesigning the 150,000-square-foot former main hospital building into an assisted living community with a separate area for those residents with memory loss associated with dementia.

“We are very pleased to have a company of this caliber, financial strength and senior housing experience as our joint venture partner in the development of this important new community. Engel Burman’s reputation for excellence in the development and daily management of assisted living facilities is unsurpassed,” said Alfred Caiola, a principal in North Street Community.

In addition to developing the assisted living units, North Street Community plans to build 335 independent living condominiums for those 60 and older. Set in a quiet, wooded area adjacent to the city’s downtown, four residential buildings and an expansive club building will be inter-connected by all-season pedestrian walkways. The club will offer a wide range of amenities for residents including a lap pool, spa and various dining venues. Parking will be provided in below-ground garages.

North Street Community is currently renovating a 72,000-square-foot building on the campus into a state-of-the-art medical office complex called the Westchester Medical Pavilion. The company is investing more than $4 million in enhancing and upgrading the four-story building. Approximately 40 percent of the building is already occupied by medical related tenants. 

The North Street Community acquired the St. Agnes property in 2004.  Its redevelopment plan for the site was approved in 2007.

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. April 2, 2009: Jeffrey Gloak of the New York State Department of Real Property Services confirmed to WPCNR Wednesday that  Basic and Enhanced STAR Exemptions will continue to reduce homeowners assessment exemptions, costing White Plains homeowners under 65 $250 more in taxes and White Plainsians over 65, $407.

The legislature took out the STAR Exemptions from the enacted budget now being considered by Albany, Gloak confirmed. He said  the Basic and Enhanced STARS would continue to reduce homeowners assessment exemptions subject to property tax by 11%, affecting the 152,000 Westchester homeowners.

WPCNR was told today by the Office of Real Property Services that another cut in the key STAR Exemptions is included in the Paterson-Silver-Smith state budget agreed upon over the weekend. The STARS are the fifth tax increases  that taxpayers face next year. The STAR Exemptions, despite what Fred Seiler said Monday evening, are being cut again by 11%, not 18% as was originally in Governor Patterson’s budget, but still hiking the White Plainsian’s property tax to help fund their school district’s own state aid.

The restoration in district school aid  of $2 Million to White Plains  is being partially paid for again by the White Plains taxpayer because in the final Albany budget, the STAR BASIC EXEMPTION and STAR ENHANCED EXEMPTION ( the allowance deducted off your home assessment) is being reduced another 11% lowering your exemption from $3330 to $2,964  if you’re  under 65, and for those over 65 qualifying for the Enhanced Exemption it descends  $6,500 to $5,785.

The 11% cut in the exemption raises the BASIC STAR homeowner Property Tax on a $650,000-$700,000 home in White Plains $250.   The cut in the ENHANCED STAR (available only to persons over 65 earning under $73,000 a year ) raises your property tax an additional $407. The cut in the exemptions courtesy of the state legislature, is the fifth tax increase the White Plains homeowner and those across the state will face next year.

The five increases are: the County Property Tax (2.4%), The School Tax Increase (2.4%), the City Tax Increase —unless the city budget is cut from this year’s $161.7 Million, the takeaway of the STAR Rebate, and the cut in the STAR EXEMPTIONS.

Mr. Gloak said that 152,000 Westchester County homeowners are eligible for STAR Exemptions, and seniors over 65 make up 24,000 of those 152,000 owners. Gloak said Westchester BASIC  STAR Exemptionees save an average of $1,750 in property taxes thanks to STAR Exemptions, and seniors eligible for  ENHANCED STAR receive an average  $3,100 in tax savings thanks to STAR.

Gloak said Westchester County is Number 1 in the state by far in average STAR savings because of its high property values. The next closest county is Nassau at $1,095 and $2,040. Albany county by contrast is $560 and $1,000 respectively.

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WPCNR MAMARONECK AVENUE AMBLER. April 1, 2009: The annual Juneteenth Parade in White Plains arrangements are all set. The annual celebration of the freeing of the slaves in America will take place Saturday June 13 at noon. For more information about the festivities, go to the Juneteenth website, www.wpjuneteenth.com

Information for vendors wishing to occupy street fair booths adjacent to the parade route is available on the website, in addition to details on the “Yes I Can” Essay Contest where three high school students can win laptop computers.

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Press Office. March 31, 2009: Governor David A. Paterson, Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith and Speaker Sheldon Silver Sunday announced a budget agreement to close the largest budget gap in State history, institute long-overdue reforms that will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of State government, and stabilize New York’s long-term finances by dramatically reducing future projected deficits. The agreement is subject to final enactment by the Legislature.

“Over the last year, New York faced a historic fiscal crisis that tested our resolve. But by working together cooperatively with our partners in the Legislature, we made the tough choices necessary to address that challenge through shared sacrifice and responsible budgeting,” said Governor Paterson. “The agreement we are announcing today closes the largest deficit in State history, stabilizes our finances, and institutes critical reforms that will help eliminate waste and inefficiency in our government. We have produced a budget that provides a solid foundation to move forward and address the challenges ahead. We have accomplished this with a budget that holds government accountable to the people of New York, and protects those who can not protect themselves.”

“Facing the worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression, with economic conditions worsening by the day and no sector of the State immune to the pain of a struggling economy, we made the tough choices these difficult times demand,” Majority Leader Smith said. “We held firm to a core set of priorities – maintain strong education funding, protect healthcare from the harshest cuts while achieving long-needed reform to increase investments in primary and preventative care, and create new jobs wherever and whenever possible. And coupled with the Senate’s commitment to enacting property tax relief this session through a middle class circuit breaker, we will also address skyrocketing property taxes. For New Yorkers across the State, we have created a budget that confronts the dire economic problems responsibly and positions us to achieve the long-term economic growth we need to get our State back on track.”

“Faced with the largest deficit in New York’s history, our plan makes $6 billion in spending cuts – including historic reforms to Medicaid that will save $1.6 billion this year and billions more in future years – while leveraging $5 billion in federal stimulus dollars and a temporary increase in income taxes on high earners to balance the budget on time and prevent deep cuts to schools, healthcare, seniors, child welfare and the environment,” said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. “In addition, this budget advances two long held Assembly priorities: reform of the Rockefeller drug laws to emphasize treatment and prevention over incarceration and an expansion of New York’s nickel deposit law to bottled water – a move that will clean up New York’s environment and raise an additional $115 million for green initiatives throughout the State.”

The Enacted Budget agreement closes a two-year $17.7 billion 2009-10 budget gap and reduces the State’s multi-year deficit by an estimated 80 percent from approximately $60 billion to approximately $11 billion. These estimates are preliminary. The Division of the Budget will release an Enacted Budget Financial Plan within 30 days of budget enactment.

Along with the recurring impact of the Deficit Reduction Plan, today’s Enacted Budget agreement reflects $6.5 billion of the spending reductions in the Executive Budget – the largest amount in State history. Additionally, it includes $5.2 billion in revenue actions, the largest of which is a temporary $4 billion personal income tax surcharge on higher-income New Yorkers.

Based on preliminary estimates, General Fund spending is expected to increase no more than 1 percent and total approximately $54 billion. All Funds spending is expected total approximately $131.8 billion, an increase of $10.5 billion or 8.7 percent. The vast majority of that increase ($7.2 billion) represents American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) aid that must, according to federal guidelines, be spent in the current fiscal year. The remainder reflects negotiated State funds spending restorations ($2.0 billion) and previously committed capital and debt service spending ($1.3 billion).

Over the past year, the State has experienced a precipitous decline in revenues. In the last two months alone, since the passage of the 2008-09 Deficit Reduction Plan, the State’s budget deficit has increased by $4.7 billion from $13 billion to $17.7 billion, primarily due to lower than anticipated projected tax collections, as well as increased pressures on entitlement spending. This decline is roughly similar to the amount that will be collected from the temporary Personal Income Tax surcharge on high-income New York taxpayers.

The Enacted Budget also utilizes $6.2 billion of federal economic recovery funding that Congress allocated to help states stabilize their finances and stimulate the economy. This funding is required to be spent during the coming fiscal year and may not be used to fund rainy day reserves or retire debt. Federal economic recovery aid will be targeted to address the State’s deficit, restore proposed spending reductions in health care, education, human services, local aid to New York City, and mental hygiene, as well as to eliminate selected revenue proposals.

Selected Enacted Budget Highlights

Education
In 2009-10, General Support for Public Schools is projected to total approximately $21.9 billion, an increase of $405 million – reflecting the elimination of a proposed $1.1 billion Deficit Reduction Assessment through the use of American Reinvestment and Recovery Act aid. When enhanced funding for the Title I ($454 million) and IDEA ($398 million) programs is included which are provided to school districts pursuant to a federal formula, which was provided through federal economic recovery legislation, School Aid is expected to increase by $1.2 billion compared to 2008-09.

Foundation Aid will be maintained at $14.9 billion, the same amount as 2008-09 levels in both the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years. Additionally, although the full phase-in of Foundation Aid will be delayed, the commitment to Foundation Aid has been maintained with phase in now taking place over seven years and full implementation occurring in 2013-14.

The Enacted Budget also eliminates an Executive Budget proposal to make school districts responsible for a 15 percent share of preschool special education costs. Rescinding this proposal will provide a fiscal benefit of $185 million to school districts in 2009-10.

Health Care
The Enacted Budget includes a record Health Care savings package totaling $2.3 billion in 2009-10. The 2009-10 Executive Budget recommended $3.5 billion of health care savings, which included a $404 million tax on non-diet soft drinks that Governor Paterson and Legislative Leaders previously agreed to eliminate. The Budget also permanently reforms New York’s Medicaid hospital reimbursement system to lower costs while improving patient outcomes. These savings will be invested in primary and preventive care to create a higher quality and more sustainable system.

Local Government Aid
The scheduled Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) payment for New York City will be fully restored by redirecting total $328 million of the State’s allocation of federal economic recovery funding.

Funding for AIM program outside of New York City is preserved at 2008-09 payment levels for 2009-10 and 2010-11. The State will still provide municipalities with $755 million in AIM support.

The Enacted Budget eliminates an Executive Budget proposal to reduce State payments in lieu of taxes and maintain other taxes on State-owned lands at 2008-09 levels.

The Governor and Legislative Leaders agreed to continue to review a package of mandate relief proposals for local governments.

Higher Education
The Enacted Budget restores $35 million in modifications to the Tuition Assistance Program, $49 million in reductions to community colleges and $31 million in reductions to university-wide programs for SUNY and CUNY. The Enacted Budget also establishes the New York Higher Education Loan Program (NYHELPs) proposed by Governor Paterson in the Executive Budget. This initiative would provide, on an annual basis, a minimum of $350 million in loans to 45,000 resident students enrolled in a degree-granting program at a college or university in New York State.

Human Services/Mental Hygiene
The 2009-10 Enacted Budget restores $254 million of human services programs and $36 million of mental hygiene programs. These include: homeless prevention programs, refugee resettlement programs, Community Optional Preventive programs, reductions in the New York City adult shelter reimbursement and the personal needs allowance for Safety Net recipients, and many others. In addition, the Enacted Budget includes the first increase to the welfare grant since 1990 to help assist those in poverty during a time of unprecedented economic turmoil. Implementation of the public assistance grant increase will be will be accelerated, with recipients expected to receive a 10 percent increase in July, 2009, with the total 30 percent increase to be implemented by July, 2011. The cost of the grant increase will be paid by the State for three years using TANF funding.

Transportation
The Enacted Budget restores $20 million of transit aid. It also restores a $96.5 million reduction in capital aid to local governments for highway and bridge projects under the CHIPS program for municipalities outside New York City and another $15.3 million for New York City.

Government Reforms
The Enacted Budget implements several significant reforms that will reduce the cost of State government moving forward. These include Empire Zone Reform, to rein in long-documented abuses in the Empire Zone program by raising standards to ensure taxpayers’ investments create jobs; Rockefeller Drug Laws to provide judges the discretion to divert non-violent drug-addicted individuals to treatment alternatives that are shown to be far more successful than prison; and closing three underutilized prisons and nine juvenile justice facilities to save taxpayers money.

Environment
The Enacted Budget will expand the five-cent nickel deposit on carbonated beverages to now include bottled water. The state will retain 80 percent of unclaimed deposits on all beverages, a change from the 100 percent of which are currently kept by bottlers. The Enacted Budget also will increase Environmental Protection Fund appropriations by $17 million from $205 million to $222 million, and restores a proposed $45 million transfer from the Environmental Protection Fund. The enacted budget restores the Real Estate Transfer Tax as the primary funding source for the Environmental Protection Fund providing almost $200 million in support in 2009-10.

STAR Rebate
The Enacted Budget eliminates the STAR rebate program as well as the corresponding enhanced NYC STAR tax credit, producing savings of $1.5 billion in 2009-10. Even after this action, the STAR exemption program and NYC STAR credit will continue to provide $3.3 billion in property tax relief. Additionally, the Executive Budget proposal to decrease the “floor” reduction – the maximum reduction in STAR benefits that can occur as a result of changes in assessed value or market value –from 18 percent to 11 percent is not included in the Enacted Budget.

Taxes
The Enacted Budget includes taxes and fee actions that will produce $5.3 billion in revenues in 2009-10. The largest increase is a temporary Personal Income Tax Surcharge for higher-income taxpayers. This will temporarily increase the marginal State personal income tax rate for higher-income filers for a three-year period from tax year 2009 to tax year 2011. For married couples filing jointly, the marginal rate will increase from 6.85 percent to 7.85 percent for filers with incomes above $300,000 and 8.97 percent for filers with incomes above $500,000. This surcharge is expected to produce $4.0 billion in revenue in the 2009-10 fiscal year, which is an amount that is approximately equivalent to the $4.7 billion increase in the deficit that has occurred since the passage of the 2008-09 Deficit Reduction Plan on February 3.