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 County Clarion-Ledger. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. May 24, 2012:

“I know the public will enjoy having access once again to this beautiful landmark,” Astorino said. “Kensico Dam Plaza is a vital public space in Westchester, where each year tens of thousands of visitors enjoy exercising, gathering with friends on the great lawn, celebrating at heritage festivals, and much more. Reopening the roadway will further expand the recreational opportunities that make Westchester a great place to live and visit.”

The Kensico Dam stretches between West Westlake Drive and Route 22, measuring 1,843 feet in length and 307 feet in height.  As a Public Access Area, the walkway will not require a DEP Access Permit and will be open seven days a week from dawn to dusk.

“Reopening Kensico Dam Road will give local residents and visitors a wonderful opportunity to spend time outdoors with family and friends, enjoy the spectacular views of the Kensico Reservoir and the surrounding area while taking a leisurely stroll or going for a jog or bike ride,” Strickland said. “DEP continues to expand public access for recreational use to benefit our neighbors, while at the same time protecting the drinking water supply of over nine million New Yorkers. I thank County Executive Astorino for partnering with New York City to expand recreational access to residents in the community.”

The $42 million rehabilitation work, which was paid for by DEP and began in 2005, included cleaning and repairing the spillway, acid washing the facade and colonnades, and replacing the colonnade roofs, the gate house, and the valve chamber that controls the flow of water through the dam. There was also repair of pavilions, colonnades, terrace, and fountains as well as installation of new technology to remotely operate equipment. Drains and drainage systems were restored, electrical equipment was replaced, heating and ventilation systems were installed, ornamental fencing was replaced, and landscaping was performed. The rehabilitation work was completed in December 2011.

The Kensico Reservoir was placed into service in 1915 and at full capacity can hold up to 30.6 billion gallons, serving as a terminal rather than a collecting reservoir. It receives most of its water from the city’s west-of-Hudson reservoirs through the Catskill and Delaware aqueducts, and serves as the last stop for water before it flows into the Hillview Reservoir in Yonkers for distribution in New York City.

Since 2003, DEP has significantly expanded the amount of city-owned water supply lands open for recreation to 108,000 acres — more than double the amount available in 2003. Of the 108,000 total acres open to recreation, 75,000 are land and 33,000 are water. In 2011, DEP opened approximately 6,600 acres of land for recreation over the course of the year. Expanding recreational opportunities in the watershed along with operating and maintaining New York City’s network of dams are two of the Operations goals outlined in Strategy 2011-2014, a far-reaching strategic plan that lays out 100 distinct initiatives to make DEP the safest, most efficient, cost-effective, and transparent water utility in the nation. The plan is available on DEP’s website at www.nyc.gov/dep.

DEP manages the city’s water supply, providing more than one billion gallons of water each day to more than nine million residents, including eight million in New York City, and residents of Ulster, Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties. This water comes from the Catskill, Delaware, and Croton watersheds that extend more than 125 miles from the City, and the system comprises 19 reservoirs, three controlled lakes, and numerous tunnels and aqueducts. DEP employs nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 scientists, engineers, surveyors, watershed maintainers and others professionals in the upstate watershed.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE EXAMINER. May 21, 2012: The Common Council approved the 2012-13 budget pf $166.5 Million with a 4.75% property tax increase and 2% raises for Commissioners.

According to the legislation, they will raise salaries of appointed Officials, including Commissioners 2%, (their  first increases since 2010-11) and provide for future labor settlements with police, fire and teamsters contracts by transferring $5 Million out of the Tax Stabilization Fund into the General Fund.

The Mayor and his office staff will not receive raises, and at this point neither will the Common Council.

The new salaries for Commissioners will be:

Assessor: $129,540, and increase of $2,540

Commissioner of Building, $144,330, up $2,880

Deputy Commissioner of Building, $128,529, increased  $2,520

City Clerk, $103,020 up $2,020

Corporation Counsel, $193,800, up $3,800

Chief Deputy Corporation Counsel, $161,160, increased $3,160

Deputy Corporation Counsel, $154,020, moved up $3,020

Commissioner of Finance, $153,000, up $3,000

Deputy Commissioner of Finance, $132,090 up $2,590

Director of Information Services, $132, 600 up $2,600

Library Director, $143,820, an increase of $2,820

Personnel Officer, $151,980, up $2,980

Deputy Personnel Officer, $85,000 an increase from the previous pay of this position which was $72,000

Physician, $50,490, up $1,090

Commissioner of Parking, $149,940, up $2,940

Deputy Commissioner of Parking, $125,000, a decrease from the previous pay for this position which was $137,000

Commissioner of Planning, $165,240, up $3,240

Deputy Commissioner of Planning, $122,400, up $2,400

Commissioner of Public Safety, $180,822, up $4,330

Commissioner of Public Works, $173,400, an increase of $3,400

Deputy Commissioner of Public Works No 1, $140,760, up $2,760

Deputy Commissioner of Public Works No 2, $128,010, up $2,510

Commissioner of Purchase, $113,230, up $2,230

Commissioner of Recreation and  Parks, $140,234. An increase of $2,750

Deputy Commissioner of Recreation and Parks, $120,774, increased $2,368

Commissioner of Traffic, $131,580, increased $2,580

Director of Youth Bureau, $125,460. Up $5,460

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. May 16,2012:

The Common Council  had their first budget discussion Monday evening and learned that, based on April sales tax revenues, Michael Genito, Commissioner of Finance, has lowered the proposed property  tax increase for 2012-13 to 4.75%, from the 5% proposed last month.

WPCNR calculates that the average tax bill for school, city and property taxes on the mid-range $650,000 home will be about  $13,500. Of course every home is taxed differently based on its assessed value.

In a related development that will reduces the impact of the 3.03% school tax hike approved by 901 voters Tuesday, WPCNR has learned and confirmed with Geoffrey Gloak, spokesperson for  the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Mr. Gloak confirmed that the White Plains Basic STAR Exemption will increase to $3,460 (that can deducted off the assessed value of homes of individuals earning less than $500,000 a year) 

The Enhanced STAR for those owners of homes over 65 making earning less than $79,000 a year has also gone up to $7,170.

The effect reduces the school tax increase voted last night by $169 for the homeowner eligible for Basic STAR exemption, while keeping property taxes under $14,000 for the average sales price home ($650,000).

For the owner of a  $564,000 median-priced home this slashing of the city tax rate by ¼% would result in a tax increase of $112 to approximately $2,360  (up from $2,250 in property taxes paid in 2011-12.

For a $650,000 home, a $128 increase in the city tax means going from approximately $2,700 in 2011-12 to $2,820 in 2012-13. Of course if your home is assessed at more than $650,000 market value you will pay more.

The new Basic Exemption softens the blow of the school district 3.03% increase in the tax rate approved by voters Tuesday.

$13,550 in taxes on the $650,000 home. Keeps Mr. and Mrs. Upper Middle Class Out of the $14,000 Property Tax Zone Barely

The total estimated tax bill in July counting the school budget passed Tuesday would find the $650,000 (averaged sales price home) paying about $8,500  in school taxes (thanks to an increase in the Basic Star Exemption to $3.460 subtracted from your  assessment); $2,204 in County Taxes and about $3,000 in city taxes for a total tax bill of $13,550 to $13,700, $900 less than previously projected.

Accounting for the decrease is a lower than expected sewer assessment from the county, the slightly lower city tax increase (4.75%),and the very nice Basic STAR EXEMPTION increase.

Without the Basic STAR Exemption, the school tax on this home be approximately $8,671.  This Basic STAR exemption increase, Mr. Gloak said is a result of the calculation of the Tax Levy Cap and is the highest STAR Exemption in five years, reversing a trend..

The Council Decides on the City Tax Monday.

The council is scheduled to vote on the budget next Monday night. It remains to be seen whether White Plains City Commissioners, lauded by Mr. Genito for their frugality and for not being “spendthrifts” will be rewarded for their thriftiness with their first raises since 2010.

Mayor Thomas Roach announced Moody’s, the bond rating service has told the city it has decided to keep the White Plains bond rating at aa1, which the Mayor said was based on the city’s hard decisions the last three years, and the city refusal to borrow for certiorari tax refunds or amortize pension fund increases.

Stabilization Fund to the Rescue. Stabilization Fund to the Rescue.

As first observed by Tim Sheehan of the Budget and Management Committee in April, (exclusively reported by WPCNR),  Council President Beth Smayda acknowledged  again during the Monday evening 20 minute discussion of the $166.5 Million budget,  the council is using the tax stabilization fund on a year-to-year basis to meet the current budget by refusing to touch the stabilization money available from the sales tax increase of two years ago until it is “audited.”

She said:

“The reason we can be under this (tax levy) cap now, without taking drastic measures and getting back to fiscal stability is because we did make a lot of hard decisions two years ago in an effort to get our expenses in line with the reduced revenue base which still has not completely come back, but also in setting up the contingency and tax stabilization fund .

“Since that extra sales tax was approved over two years ago we been able to build up reserves, but also are now in a position where we can appropriate some of those reserves to help us with the budget. It’s a reserve but it’s a recurring reserve. As we followed our fiscal performance goals to not use reserves until they’re audited now we can use a portion of what has been collected on that sales tax (collected as a result of the increase 2 years ago) and that’s helping us tremendously this year to keep our finances stable. If we would have raised the sales tax and spent it (on) that first year’s operating expenses we would be in a much worse position at this point.

So all those things we have done are helping us to stay stable, keep our employees.”

Raises Next?

Should the Common Council decide to break the wage freeze on Commissioners, it could cost the city approximately $500,000. With the transfer of $5,000,000 from the handy Tax Stabilization fund, it is possible to cover a 3% settlement with the police and fire and teamsters if arbitration works out that way and a nice chunk of change for the Commissioners.

The last time raises were voted for the Commissioner team in the former Bradley administration in 2010, it was done in secret after the budget was approved and announced in the dead of night after the meeting. Reporters should be sure to stick around. The holdovers may be due.

Mr. Genito accounted for the reduction in the city tax rate as follows:

Sales tax receipts have been revised upward by $100,000 to about $46,000.

Employee turnover and benefits have reduced $26,000.

Electricity credits for LED lighting changes around the city have received a $50,000 credit from Con Edison.

Miscellaneous revenues have gone up $295.

Overall General Fund revenues have gone up $159,000  from $152.4 Million to $152.5 Million.

Some expenses have been incurred since, Genito said.

$44,000 was added for the city Youth Bureau to continue to support the Excel program which lost its grant with the school district.

$7,500 was  lost  in revenues from PILOTS by reducing the proposed city tax rate from $184.92 per $1,000 of assessed value  to $184.47 per $1,000 of assessed value, up from last years $176.11.

Monday will tell the tale of the money.

To view the entire 19 minute and 46 second discussion on the $166.5 Million budget go to the city website at http://whiteplainsny.swagit.com/play/05152012-796

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. MAY 15, 2012:

The City of White Plains passed the proposed 2012-13 school budget of $188,822,000 today. A total turn out of 1,113 voters chose to vote in the school board election out of a total of 29,000 voters, a turnout of 5%.  Last year, 1,866 voted and two years ago the turnout was 2,375.

The total vote today was 901 in favor and 212 “No.” The budget imposes a 3.03% property tax increase on the residents, and raises the overall budget by 1.77%.  The budget just meets  Governor Andrew Cuomo’s tax levy cap at  2.03%.

James Hricay and Peter Bassano were elected for their second term and third term on the board respectively, and Rose Lovitch was elected to her first term, replacing 15-year board member Donna McLaughlin who chose not to run for a sixth term.

Dr. Christopher Clouet,Superintendent of Schools,  was ebullient. He said he was pleased voters passed the budget and “recognized it was respectful of the taxpayers, while meeting the needs of the students.I’m pleased.”

Mr. Hricay (right) said his goal in his second term was “to continue the work we’re doing, work on improving student achievement, and continue evaluating our programs.”

Ms. Lovitch (left) asked what her priorities were, said she was “definitely looking forward to working with the Board in implementing the new middle school design, and work to continue to offer the very best programs to all students, and students of need.”

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. May 14,2012:

White Plains will vote on the 2012-13 School Budget of $188,822,000 Tuesday with polls opening at 12 noon and closing at P.M. at neighborhoold polling places. They will also vote on three candidates for three Board of Education seats: Peter Bassano, Jim Hricay, and new to the Board, Rose Lovitch (veteran PTA leader). The three are automatic winners because they have no opponents. The election also sees the end of the Donna McLaughlin era on the White Plains Board of Education. 

Donna McLaughlin, right, with former Superintendent of Schools, Timothy Connors, 2009. Ms. McLaughlin is stepping down from the Board in July,

McLaughlin has been a member of the Board for fifteen years, elected the first time in 1997,  and has decided to step down and not run again this year. She has been a staunch proponent of accountability in school academic programs, and  was the President of the Board when the Board refused to renew  12-year superintendent Saul Yanofsky’s contract in 2001. McLaughlin oversaw the selection of two more  White Plains Superintendents of Schools: She pushed for more accountability and longitudinal tracking of students’ progress but was consistently frustrated by data processing limitations which have only recently begun delivering more useful statistics on individual student achievement.

Over her 15-year term on the board the White Plains budget more than doubled,from $92,635,851 in 1997 to $185,536,466 today. In the last three years staff has been cut 10% and tax increases trimmed from an annual average of 7% to less than 3%, slowing the exponential compounding of the budget. This year’s budget increases  1.77%, while property taxes increase 3.3%.

Ms. McLaughlin will be honored in June by the White Plains Foundation for Education.

At stake in the budget vote is the new wrinkle in what happens if the budget is defeated. If ia resubmitted budget is not approved, the district will have to return to this year’s budget, requiring a $3.3 Million cut.