Adam On Eliot: Spitzer Budget Hurts District.

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley, 89th District. February 2, 2007: Taken as a whole, Governor Spitzer’s budget proposal hits all the right notes – tax relief to the middle-class, investing in education and providing health care to all New York State children.  A more cautious review uncovers a few areas where we need to ask a few questions, such as the elimination of local aid and health care cuts.





Spitzer’s tax relief plan is of utmost importance to Westchester homeowners, whose incomes have just not risen fast enough to keep up with the escalating property taxes.  However, higher cost-of-living in our communities must be taken into account and incorporated into the equation.  This relief might not be enough.  Under the governor’s expanded STAR program, Westchester homeowners can expect an increase in their STAR savings over last year:


 




















 


Estimated 07-08 savings for Basic STAR


Average 06-07 Basic STAR savings


Income


up to $80,000


Income


$80,001 – $120,000


Income


$120,001 – $160,000


Income


$160,001 – $235,000


$1,823


$3,281


$2,971


$2,662


$2,370


 


The executive budget also provides more relief for senior homeowners with estimated savings increasing from $3,095 to $4,024. 


 


Education funding was also increased for the school districts I represent and I am very pleased that we finally have a governor committed to fulfilling the CFE decision.  The governor avoided using a “Robin Hood” approach to fund distressed school districts, which would have hurt Westchester schools.  While Spitzer’s proposal does provide a boost in aid to every school district within the 89th Assembly District, some increases fall short, such as the two percent increase for White Plains. 


 


Another area that will receive a thorough review at our hearings is the health care reforms the governor is advocating for.  Putting the focus on patients and insuring the 400,000 children in our state that currently go without health care coverage is something I wholeheartedly support. 


 


However, we need to cautiously go through the finer details of the cuts being proposed so our local hospitals such as White Plains, Northern Westchester and the Westchester County Medical Center can continue to provide an exceptional quality of care and vital services.  There is no doubt that our health care system needs reforms in order to sustain it for future generations and ensure access and affordability today, but we simply cannot compromise patient care.  


 


We also cannot ignore our communities.  Spitzer proposed eliminating aid to the towns of Bedford, Harrison, Lewisboro, New Castle, North Castle and Pound Ridge and the village of Harrison.  While the previous aid amounted to only a small percent of the state’s overall aid to localities, it was significant to these towns and villages.  Eliminating this aid is merely a tax shift onto property taxpayers and I will fight to restore it during budget negotiations.


 

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School District Names members of Annual Budget Committee. Convenes Tuesday

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Schoenfeld. February 1, 2007: The School District will convene the Annual Budget Committee next Tuesday evening at 7:30 P.M. at Education House to begin the process of developing the 2007-2008 school budget. The budget has already been trimmed to $174.4 Million because of the decision by the district they did not need $8 Million for possible certioraris.  Today the District announced the names of the citizens who will help decide this year’s budget.

The committee consists of 38 persons from the community with a number of new faces, and some veteran “budget watchers and approvers” in recent years. The process instituted in the 1990s gathers together a group of citizens to go over budget pressures and provides a forum for the school district to explain the pressures contributing to budget pressures in the coming year.


The members are Marc Bodner, Sheryl Brady, Kenneth Burford, Patty Cantu, Leonard G. Coleman, William Deering, Al Dold, Innocent Enaye, Eli Fritz (League of Women Voters), Lina Gomez, Nikki Gray (NAACP), Stephen Holden (ROTARY), Lani Hosei (WPHS General Organization), Jim Hricay, Raymond Indelicato (Historical Society), Lewis Kanner (REALTORS), Nina Kimenker, Charles Lederman (CNA), Phil McGovern, Charlie Norris, Louis Petralia, Marc Pollitzer, Karen Reynolds (PTA Council), Chris Rivera (WPHS General organization), Jonathan Rodey, Judy Rubin, Joanne Sayer, David Schuler, Denise Serra (PTA Council), Peggy Shea (REALTORS), Naima Smith-Moore, Ida Stewart, Tapani Talo, Cathy Toohey, Gloria Vasquez, Irv Wiggs, Nick Wolff.


 


Leonard Coleman, Sheryl Brady, Charlie Norris also will serve on the Strategic Planning Core Committee announced earlier today.

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District Announces Strategic Planning Core Committee. Meet Feb 7-9

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. February 1, 2007: The School District released the names of residents and school district personalities who will decide the direction of White Plains Schools for the next decade today as part of the district-launched “Strategic Planning Process.” The blue ribbon list of concerned citizens includes 2 present Board of Education members, 1 former member, the Superintendent, 13 employees of the city schools and 13 members of the community.


Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors announced the “Strategic Planning Core Committee” would meet at the Crowne Plaza Hotel for three days next Wednesday through Friday (February 7-9) to begin the planning process. The meeting will not be open to the public nor the press. Connors explained this policy as allowing members of the committee “to speak freely.”


Connors reported that, barring inclement weather tomorrow, that the comments collected from the public at the World Cafe meeting January 25 will be available to the media tomorrow Friday for examination. The Planning Core Committee is expected to digest the comments and grapple with the needs as expressed by the 144 people who attended and gave their comments that night.


The Strategic Planning Core Committee members are from the public: Sheryl Brady, Victor Brady, Bill Carter, Vicki Cignarella,Benny Cipriano, Leonard Coleman, Leslie Davis, Malula Gonzalez, Melissa Lopez, Ana Montoya, Charlie Norris, Randy Patterson, and Jerry Rosen . The members from the Board of Education are Peter Bassano, Donna McLaughlin, and former member Dorothy Schere. Employees of the City School District serving are: Mr. Connors, Lenora Boehlert, Kerry Broderick, LaShiela Brown, Leroy Dixon, Margaret Dwyer, Terri Klemm, Suzanne Lasser, Mary Marquis, Marianna McCormack, Alberto Minotta, Lesley Tompkins, and George Tsuji.

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Cappelli Enterprises Not Seeking Golf Club Amenity for The Ritz

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. February 1, 2007: Bruce Berg, Vice President of Cappelli Enterprises, speaking to WPCNR today has categorically denied that Cappelli Enterprises is seeking to acquire a country club in White Plains, or any country club anywhere else as an amenity for guests of the Ritz-Carlton Westchester, the dual-spired luxury hotel rising on Main Street.


Mr. Berg said, “I told you before, there is no truth to that,” referencing a widely circulated report to community neighborhood associations that Cappelli Enterprises was seeking to purchase a local country club. The rumor had Cappelli Enterprises demolishing a clubhouse, building another one, and making it available to guests and residents of the Ritz-Carlton for play as a “perk.” Asked if the Cappelli organization was seeking arrangements for use of other country clubs in the area, Berg said, “not at all. Nowhere.”


 

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Austin Complains City Leaves No Time for Committee Recommendations on Budget.

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WPCNR Quill & Eyeshade. By John F. Bailey.  February 1, 2007: The Budget and Management  Advisory Board met Tuesday evening for only the second time since the end of last year’s budget season. The meeting disclosed the Budget & Management Board whose purpose is to advise the city on budget preparation, will not have too much time to do much advising: two weeks at most before the budget is presented to the Common Council.


 



City Budget & Management Advisory Board Meets Tuesday.  They are, clockwise from lower left: Tim Sheehan, Eleanor McDonald, Larry Delgado, Arnold Bernstein, the Mayor, Chairman Benjamin Boykin, Joseph Lenchner, Gina Cuneo-Harwood, Patrick Austin. Not pictured: Ted Peluso, Anthony Cucciarre. Photos, WPCNR News


 



Veteran Budget Management Advisory Board member Patrick Austin questioned how much time the Board would have to make any constructive changes to the budget and succeeded in getting a commitment to have a copy of the budget done by the second week in March.





Patrick Austin raised the reaction time issue when Chief Fiscal Officer, Gina Cuneo-Harwood said she would not have the preliminary budget ready until mid-March. This is two weeks before it was to be presented to the Common Council for approval by the end of May. Harwood originally said it would be closer to April 1 when the budget was delivered to the Budget Committee. (Last year the big budget book without cover made its appearance for the first time at the April Common Council meeting, and the city charged the public for copies of the budget.)


 


Austin pushed for an earlier time to see the proposed city budget so the committee could make some recommendations. The best Harwood could promise was the second week in March.


 


(The City School District, by contrast, has already submitted two detailed preliminary expense budgets in the $175 Million range, prior to its Annual Budget Committee process which begins Tuesday evening at 7:30 at Education House.)


 


Austin said the committee would have precious little time to supply its input.  Harwood, (who is getting paid an additional $20,000 for assuming duties of Budget Director through June, said she was in the process of collecting expense budgets from the city departments. She expected those to be in by January 15 and to begin projecting revenues February 15, and expected a preliminary budget by “the second week in March.”


 


Austin complained in a respectful manner that in the past the committee was given projections of future budgets for the next year’s budget, and expressed a concern that the Committee has had no long range out look on budget trends.


 


Boykin asks for ideas.


 


Budget & Management chair, Councilman Benjamin Boykin, said he wanted input from the members on their ideas for the budget, so he could get them any information they wanted. He asked Joseph Lenchner if he had any ideas. Lechner, said he did not at this time, but would get them to Boykin.


 


However, this was apparently the first time Boykin had advised the committee he wanted their input. Last year, Joseph Lenchner and Patrick Austin complained the Budget & Management group was not convened early enough to have an impact on the budget. This year the committee has met by this reporter’s recollection even less, this being only the second meeting.


 


Committee member Tim Sheehan raised the issue of benefits as being an area the city had to negotiate more aggressively with the unions. Ted Peluso,  agreed this was an area for action, too. Mayor Joseph Delfino said negotiating benefit givebacks was very hard to do, and he would need the Common Council support in order to take that to the unions.


 


Hockley chips in.


 


Councilman Glen Hockley,  not an official member of the committee, commented from the “observer’s circle”  that a management study of the Department of Public Safety to assue as he put it that officers now executing desk jobs within the police and fire departments be replaced with civilian hires so police officiers could “be on the street,” (his words). Sheehan also supported this management study idea


 


 (Generally, when committees meet, no comment is tolerated from any common citizen or official for that matter, by the Mayor from observers, unless he or the Chairman invites them to do so. WPCNR did not think at the time to inquire if work sessions and future committee meetings would now be open forums for citizens to make suggestions.)


 


Sales Tax Figures May Be Higher: Harwood


 


The committee meeting began with Fiscal Officer Harwood distributing the official first half of fiscal 2006-2006 sales tax figures, noting that the holiday season was incomplete only containing figures through November 30, and was calculated by estimate by the state for the rest of the month.


 



Gina Cuneo Harwood (Center), city Chief Fiscal Officer expound on the sales tax good news.


 


She said the major sales tax payers would file actual sales tax returns by April 1st making for a possible movement upward in the sales tax which would be reflected in the 3rd quarter figures.  She reported sales tax revenues was up 7.4% through the first half of the year, despite being down 3.2% in the first quarter.


 


“This is not the entire Christmas season, it’s only through November 30. We’ll see more of it in March,” Harwood said. “I’m very optimistic for the rest of the year that anticipated (sales tax) revenues ($42.5 Million) will be realized and have every reason to be believe we’re going to exceed it.”


 


Schedule for Budget. No automatic cuts asked for. What do you want us to do?


 


Harwood informed the committee she was getting expense and salary information from the departments by January 15 and revenue projections by February 25 with a budget expected to be ready for the committee by April. Harwood reported the city had not asked departments to make any mandatory percentage cuts in their budgets.


 


Tim Sheehan asked “What kind of process there was for figuring the new budget, whether it was a 1-way (city dictates to committee) or a 2-way (give and take) there was a need for ideas on “how to streamline.”


 


At this time, Pat Austin spoke up on the Committee’s role: “What do you see the Budget Committee’s role in this process?”


 


Boykin, the Chairman said, “Until we get data (preliminary budget), we can be talking and thinking about items.”


 


Lenchner observed in the past the committee had met a number of times to discuss the actual budget before it was submitted to the council, (which did not happen last year).


 


Boykin said, “You raise the issue and we’ll get information and we’ll have the meeting to discuss it.”


 


He invited all members to submit areas of concern so they could discuss them the next meeting with data available.


 


After discussion of the water fund, the need for a management study of the Public Safety Department and possibly other departments, and the PILOTS issue – which Mayor Delfino described as being the same taxes developers would pay if they were not paying taxes – Austin raised the forecast issue, saying “We used to get forecasts on how trends were going – what you expect to to and where you’re going in the future years. We should look at that (kind of) forecast.”


 


Austin alluded to how little time the committee had to comment on formulating the construction of the budget and budget police last year, saying, “We were late in the process last year. We had no time to give input before it (the budget) went to the Common Council.”


 


Mayor Delfino said, “by all means” he wanted the committee input.  Austin politely requested the complete budget be submitted to the committee for comment before it went to the Common Council.


 


Railside Land Sale


 


The Mayor, addressing the Railside issue brought up by Joseph Lenchner repeated his comment made at the Greico Property News Conference Tuesday that the sale of the Railside Properties was ongoing and that he “expected to be completed in time to contribute the full $2.9 Million the sales was assumed to contribute to the present 2006-2007 budget.


 


PILOT ISSUES


 


In discussion of the PILOTS, the committee was given the following list of the “Payments In Lieu of Taxes” in effect at this time. The amounts below represent the city share which represnts 16% of the total PILOT being paid. The School District receives 66% (not of this sum—these are actual city revenues from PILOTS), and the county 19%.


 


CITY OF WHITE PLAINS P.I.L.O.T.s Fiscal Year 2006-2007


                              


                                     City RECEIVES


57 Ferris Avenue               $22,765.94


WP Housing Authority      $40,300.00


Power Authority of


State of New York            $283,468.00


NINE WEST                     $355,022.20


COHEN BROTHERS       $304,992.42


360 Hamilton Avenue       $318,336.00


Clayton Park                      $  99,480.00


Bank Street Commons       $406,276.32


Fortunoff                            $252,016.00


City Center (1 & 10


City Place                           $528,744.43


 


 TOTAL CITY REVENUE FROM PILOTS      $2,611,401.31

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Eliot Spitzer’s Albany: 31 Day Progress Report

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WPCNR Eliot Spitzer’s Albany. Special to WPCNR By Governor Eliot Spitzer. January 31, 2007:  Today Governor Eliot Spitzer delivers the first of what the Governor describes as his “Dialogues” with the public and the directions his new administation is taking:


Dear John,



We’re now a month past Day One, and I want to take this opportunity to share with you some of the steps we have taken to change everything.



Since Election Day, I have assembled a team of New York‘s best and brightest minds to help us solve the challenging problems facing our state. (More)



Governor Eliot Spitzer on Inauguration Day. Today the Governor submits his first budget to the state legislature and has issued this first of his “Dialogues” with the media. Photo, WPCNR News Archive
















 


 In just the past week, I have announced the appointments of Dan Gunderson as Upstate Chair of the Empire State Development Corporation and Manny Rivera as Deputy Secretary of Education, two supremely qualified individuals who will bring to their offices the passion and vigor New York State so desperately needs.


 Dan comes to us from Pennsylvania, where he earned national acclaim for spearheading innovative public-private partnerships that revitalized Pennsylvania‘s economy. Manny has served as Rochester‘s Superintendent of Schools since 2002 —  named New York‘s Superintendent of the Year in 2005, and earning the title National Superintendent of the Year in 2006. These are just two of the many outstanding individuals who have joined the administration, and we are continuing to conduct national searches for experienced leaders with the expertise our state needs.



On January 1, I exercised my power as governor to institute strict and fundamental change within the executive branch. Now, interviewers are prohibited from asking a job applicant’s party affiliation. Neither the lieutenant governor nor I will accept campaign contributions from our employees. Government meetings will be broadcast on the internet, and all New Yorkers will be able to witness government decision-making via these webcasts.



I outlined a broad agenda in my State of the State address, promoting “One New York,” a state in which all New Yorkers are afforded the same opportunities. We must guarantee access to quality, affordable health insurance for the 500,000 uninsured children in our state.


We need more accountability in our schools, and we must reduce class size, reward our outstanding teachers, and nurture our children in their most critical developmental period by providing universal pre-K. We must overhaul our campaign finance regulations, radically reducing contribution limits and closing the loopholes that allow a select few to wield influence in Albany — with the ultimate goal of full public financing.



And today I announced a budget that will deliver on the pledges I made in the State of the State, without raising taxes. This budget will reduce the inefficient and irresponsible spending that has been a hallmark of New York‘s economic decline. This will not make everyone happy, nor will these changes be easy. But I am willing to fight these difficult battles against the entrenched special interests to do what is right and responsible for New York State.



To succeed, I will need the help of a legislature open to reform. In 2006, we helped elect Andrea Stewart-Cousins to a Senate seat in Westchester County. Now, we have the opportunity to send another reform-minded legislator to Albany from Long Island.


On February 6, a special election will be held in Nassau County, an election that has implications for every New Yorker. If Democrat Craig Johnson wins, the Republican majority will slip to a mere two seats, a slim margin that will afford opportunity for more progressive legislation and open the door for a Democratic majority in the State Senate in 2009. I enthusiastically support Craig’s candidacy, and I urge you to do what you can to help him win. You can learn more about Craig and get involved with his campaign by visiting his website at www.craigjohnsonforsenate.com.



This is the first of a series of periodic e-mail updates I will be sending to you, to continue the dialogue we began while I was on the campaign trail — and to occasionally ask for your support, input, and help. In the coming months, we will re-launch our website, with features that will allow you to interact with each other — and with me — to share your ideas for New York State. In the meantime, please feel free to communicate with my political team by e-mailing info@spitzer2010.org.


I look forward to continuing our dialogue.


With best regards,


 






 





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Adam In Albany on HMO Reforms and Practices

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley, 89th District. January 31, 2007: Governor Spitzer made health care reform and access to health insurance a priority in his State of the State address because, in his words, this investment makes good moral and economic sense. 


We have a moral obligation to take a serious look at how the system delivers care, because too many children and families go without basic, preventative coverage.  And we have an obligation to the taxpayers who are paying for those that are uninsured, because even though an individual lacks insurance, they still receive care in emergency rooms.  


 


 


We cannot allow HMO reform to get lost in all the other reform rhetoric floating in Albany.  The HMO – Health Maintenance Organization – system is broken and frequently puts profits ahead of patients.  In New York, health insurance companies are currently making record profits often at the expense of our health care system while the needs of patients, hospitals and physicians are being relegated to the back burner. 


 


Last year, we made some progress and a bill I sponsored (A.11996 of 2006) became law, but more needs to be done to protect the integrity of patient care.  For example, four Westchester County hospitals that make up the Stellaris Health Network, including White Plains Hospital Center and Northern Westchester Hospital, almost left the Empire Plan because of payment issues.  Unfortunately, physicians credentialed at these hospitals who were in-network received letters from the insurance company telling them they would no longer be treated as in-network physicians because of their affiliation with these hospitals and that they should notify their patients.  Fortunately, a last minute deal was reached between Stellaris and the Empire Plan. 


 


HMOs should not be able to interrupt an established relationship between physicians and their patients, particularly in cases like this one where physicians and patients had nothing to do with the negotiations between hospitals and insurers.  That is why I sponsored the following pieces of legislation:


·        A.2058 – Provides that an insurer may not terminate a physician’s participation in a managed care plan solely because he or she is only credentialed in non-participating hospitals; and


·        A.1755 – Provides that an insurer may not charge out-of-network rates for an in-network hospital, solely because the patient used an out-of-network physician.


 


Something just isn’t right in a state that regulates auto insurance premiums but not HMO insurance premiums.  HMOs have been getting away with charging excessive premiums while making record profits.  We must do more to protect the interests of patients and providers against the unfair practices of HMOs.  


 

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City to buy Controversial Heights Woods for $1.575M for Passive Open Space.

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WPCNR GREEN GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. January 30, 2007: Mayor Joseph Delfino announced today the city will be purchasing a 4.5 acre strip of woodlands between Sunset Drive and county parkland in Woodcrest Heights for $1.575 Million. Executive Officer Paul Wood said the purchase may be funded partially by a combination of the $792,032 remaining in the city Public Space Acquisition Fund, with bonding for the rest or a cash payment. The decision on how to fund all of the purchase has not been decided.


 



The Greico Property Looking West. Photos WPCNR NEWS


 


The Mayor also announced the appointments of Councilmen Glen Hockley and Arnold Bernstein to head the city Open Space Acquisition Advisory Committee to seek out other properties to acquire in the city. Mayor Delfino expressed satisfaction that the five properties the previous committee had identified had all now been acquired (at a cost, Paul Wood, Executive Officer said of about $5 Million).


 



Mayor Joseph Delfino Announcing the White Plains Latest “Buy” on the Open Space Market. Glen Hockley, is at left, behind Mayor Delfino are Isabel Villar and Eli Schonberger, and  Matthew Shurtleff of The Trust for Public Land which negotiated the $1.575 Million purchase, and Councilman Arnold Bernstein.


 




The city decided to pursue the purchase of the property after a contractor’s agreement with the Greico property expired and that was when the Trust for Public Land was contacted and authorized to negotiate with the Greico family for the land. Since 2000, the tract has been the target of developers attempting to build approximately 15 homes on the property.


 



The Greico Property sits in back of Sunset Drive in Woodcrest Heights.



 


Paul Wood, the Executive Officer, told WPCNR there were no plans to develop the about-to-be-acquired parkland for public use, describing its purpose as “to remain passive open space.”


 


Hockley and Bernstein New Open Space Acquisitors


 


The Mayor announced he was appointing Councilmen Glen Hockley and Arnold Bernstein to the Open Space Acquisition Advisory Committee to analyze city open space and target new acquisitions. Bernstein speaking to WPCNR which has heard strong rumors as yet unconfirmed that a local golf course within the city is negotiating, was asked if golf courses might be considered, and Bernstein said he was not familiar with the economics of golf courses, but said the committee would be considering the city as a whole and “taking a look at what’s (space) is available.”


 


The Mayor pointed to a chart noting this completed his plan for acquiring key open space tracts targeted by the previous Open Space Committee Team had been completed with the acquisition of the Grieco property being the crowning piece. The properties total 45 acres and include the jewel announced today, the Grieco piece, the Dellwood (Dairy) property, the Pettinichi piece, D’Elia and Mindich properties (adjacent the Greenway).


 


Railside Not Under Consideration for Acquisition


 



 


Glen Hockley, taking the podium, digressed to discuss the Railside Avenue lot that he said was preserved at the request of the neighbors through his efforts and that of the Common Council. Hockley also said the Open Space Acquisition Advisory Committee would be working with neighbors to groom that “buffer” property adjacent the Greenway in a way that would be acceptable to the neighborhood. Behind Mr. Hockley is Matt Shurtleff (in white shirt), of The Trust for Public Land, negotiators of the city deal for the Greico property. Shurtleff said, “Over the years, White Plains has shown a strong commitment to open space for its citizens and we expect they will continue to display continued leadership in the future.”


 


City Negotiates with 2 Buyers for 8 Railside Properties.


 


The Mayor through the conference open to questions from the press. WPCNR asked if all the properties sold on Railside Avenue had been paid for by the prospective buyers. The Mayor said they had not been all paid for, that only two buyers had paid for the lots they had purchased WPCNR asked if the city would consider keeping them for Open Space. the Mayor said the city was in negotiations with two buyers for the remaining  properties not yet purchased officially. The Mayor said approximately $3 million was budgeted for sale of these properties in the budget, and that was why negotiations were continuing to find new buyers for the properties previous buyers had presumably backed out of.


 


Wood said the 4.5 acres of the Greico property was assessed at $4,725 and paid city taxes of  $627 a year.


 


Wood also said the Trust for Public Land had not been asked to approach the New York Presbyterian Hospital to negotiate for land for the city because of the high cost of the Presbyterian Hospital, a minimum of $78 Million. He also said the NYPH was not willing to sell the property at this time.


 



A White Plains Wild Turkey Celebrates today  that his habitat in Woodcrest Heights is no longer at the mercy of developers. The Turkey is shown above the Silver Lake.

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Land Trust to Acquire Grieco Property on Sunset Drive for City.

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WPCNR CNA NEWS. January 30, 2007: The Land Trust has agreed to purchase the 5 acre Grieco property in Woodcrest Heights “as open space for the city,” according to a letter to CNA members,  from Dr. John Migliaccio, Co-President of the Woodcrest Heights Neighborbood Association. Migliaccio reports, “This has been a contentious development issue for many years, and it is gratifying to have some positive news: an open space addition.”


The city will announce the acquisition officially at a news conference Tuesday morning at 11 A.M.

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School Budget Cut to $174.4M. UP 5.2%. Certiorari Pressures Pushed to 08/09

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. January 29, 2007: The Board of Education took another look at the budget Monday evening and were told that the City School District is not expecting to have to come up with $8 Million in certiorari payments they were expecting two weeks ago. At that time, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred Seiler was predicting another $8 Million in bonding was expected.


 


Instead, Mr. Seiler announced, “expected settlements are being pushed out” by the City of White Plains and the school district expects not to have to face paying anything until the 2008-2009 budget year – at which time they could be bonded.  This easing of pressure on certioraris, “at no cost in interest to the district,”  Seiler said enables the district to lower the 2007-2008 “Preliminary Budget” to $174,410,269 (up  5.17%) from this year’s $165.8 Million).


 


 


 Seiler said the budget is expected to go up $8,568,835 or 5.17%. Seiler did not comment to reporters on whether this meant the city was actually going to fight a certiorari for a change or whether settlements had been made which stretch payments out. He did not disclose names of possible certiorari beneficiaries when asked or amounts.


 


The cut comes one week before the Annual Budget Committee convenes for the first time. Names of citizens making up that committee were not announced.


 


Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors and Seiler explained that the salaries for the school district were expected to go up 3.13%, but that did not mean everybody was getting a 3.1% raise in pay. (The Teachers union contract is now under negotiation.) However, two weeks ago, Mr. Seiler said the 3.13% salary raise included allowance for settlement of the teachers’ contract.


 


Seiler said that $1,573,005 of the $8,568,835 increase was attributable to the Capital Projects bond which will increase the entire budget 1% (as Seiler said was projected when the Capital Projects Bond was proposed).


 


Superintendent Connors said in the course of the discussions on revenues that Governor Spitzer’s aid package was geared more to cities and rural areas, and the district was not expecting an increase in state aid beyond the $11 Million Seiler said the district received now.


 


Bill Pollak, member of the Board, asked when the new residential buildings in the city would be filled up, in hopes that a PILOT increase might be forthcoming. He referred to former Assessor Eyde McMarthy’s statements last spring where she indicated that the new buildings had not filled up and when they did, the district could expect possibly higher payments.


 


Seiler said that since McCarthys’ departure in December, “the city has been scrambling to catch up,” and that they have “a lot of challenges (of assessments).” Seiler said he had been in discussions with them and that they would not have any estimates of the assessment impacts until March 1 when they were required by law to inform the district. He said he had no indication whether assessments were up or down.


 


No estimate on taxe increase was given because of the unclear district revenue expectations at this time and the unclear state of the tax roll. Asked by Pollak is PILOTS would go up, Seiler said, “It’s hard to say.”


 


Seiler disclosed that less budget has been allowed for Utility increases this year, and transferred instead to Maintenance and Facilities. Seiler said the district was trying to budget more tightly this year, and that in the past when there was a surplus remaining in the Utility budget it was transferred to fund balance or used for other expenses.


 


 He said the major impact on the budget expenses were the increase in retirement benefits of 9%.


 


The Superintendent asked the press in attendance to clarify that the  cost of Transformation Systems contract for facilitating the district preparing astrategic plan  was $70,000, of which 42% was going to be reimbursed by BOCES. He wanted the public to know the $70,000 was not simply to pay for the World Café held last week, as was stated in a letter to The Journal News today.

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