THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From the NYS Office of the Comptroller and reporting by John F. Bailey. January 21, 2016:

Property tax levy growth for school districts will be capped at 0.12 percent above current levels for the 2016-17 fiscal year, according to data released Wednesday by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The latest calculation affects the tax cap calculations for 677 school districts as well as 10 cities, including the “Big Four” cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers.

In White Plains City School District, the raising of the anticipated cap from 0.06% to 0.12%, enabled the district to present an anticipated 2016-17 budget of $209.3 Million, up from the 2015-16 current budget in effect of $205.8 Million.

Effect on the tax levy was not detailed, awaiting the city assessment role due March 1. Final school aid from the state is not known. Last year some $2 Million in additional school aid was given the district at the last minute, and it was used to increase staff and pay for increased security.The budget may require adjusting (cuts or additional expenses) if the city assessed value, prepared by White Plains Assessor, Lloyd Tasch, increases in value or declines.

The preliminary budget was presented before about 6 citizens and six members of the school board and employees of the district at a widely advertised public meeting last night at White Plains High School. It is the smallest attendance this reporter has ever seen in the 16 years WPCNR has covered these preliminary runthroughs of the budget.

Meanwhile in another part of White Plains High School, a panel discussion updating parents held by a private group and urging more opting out of state assessment tests by parents this year attendance was greater, about 35 persons, including school board members,  compared to the 6 citizens plus board members by WPCNR count.

“The nearly zero growth in the tax cap will limit budget options for school and municipal officials as they plan for next year,” said DiNapoli. “Although some local governments can rely on available reserve funds to bridge the gap, others may need to take a hard look at operations to find ways to cut costs to stay under the cap.”

The tax cap, which first applied to local governments beginning in 2012, limits tax levy increases to the lesser of the rate of inflation or 2 percent with certain exceptions, including a provision that allows school districts to override the cap with 60 percent voter approval of their budget.

For 2016-17, DiNapoli estimates the state’s school districts (excluding New York City and the Big Four city school districts) will have about $308 million less in levy growth compared to what they had in 2015-16 when the allowable growth factor was 1.62 percent.

White Plains Assistant Superintendent of Business, Fred Seiler said last night at the budget presentation that the 0.12% cap cost the district $3,206,620 in tax levy…compared to the 2% in effect this year (2015-16).

Similarly, the 10 cities in New York with fiscal years ending June 30, will have about $14 million less in allowable levy growth in 2016-17 than during the current fiscal year.

For the list of allowable tax levy growth factors for all local governments, visit:
http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/realprop/pdf/inflation_allowablegrowthfactors.pdf

WPCNR 255 MAIN STREET. From the Mayor’s Office. January 20,2016:

A White Plains City spokesperson announced to select media Tuesday that a private pest control company, engaged by the city,  had inspected the National Amusements Cinema de Lux in the City Center Tuesday and reported no infestations of pests of any kind were found.

The spokesperson, Karen Pasquale, senior advisor to Mayor Thomas Roach, in a statement toThe Journal News Tuesday, wrote “an independent pest control service chosen by the city inspected the 15-theater movie house in the City Center earlier that day. The report says that as of the date of the inspection, no evidence of any inspection was found. This follow-up independently confirms the inspection results of the pest control service used by National Amusements, the operator of City Center 15: Cinema de Lux.”

The city has withdrawn its violation notice given the theater as of last week.

The Journal News reports that Pasquale’s statement says this “should alleviate any concerns the public may have about visiting the movie theater.”

The White Plains Performing Arts Center, adjacent to the National Amusement movie theaters on the 5th floor of City Center,  issued this independent statement a day earlier Monday before the city did, that WPCNR reported on WVOX Radio’s Good Morning Westchester Tuesday morning:

“Like us, you may have heard that the Cinema de Lux movie theater in City Center has been cited by the White Plains Building Department after allegations of children leaving the movie theater with tiny skin bites. 

Out of an abundance of caution and a desire to put our patrons at complete ease, the White Plains Performing Arts Center management today (Thursday,January 14) authorized a thorough inspection of our premises by a licensed pest management company.  We have been assured, without a doubt, that there is absolutely no evidence of any type of pest on our premises.  The WPPAC has never received a violation of any kind.

As always, our doors are open to you, we welcome your presence and look forward to your continued enjoyment of our highly acclaimed performances!”

The concern surfaced after parents, writing on their Facebook pages last week had complained and contacted the Mayor’s office complaining of pests allegedly biting children while viewing movies in the theater.