Eric Zinger Scarsdale Inquirer Letter to Editor on the Budget

On Nov. 13, the town of Greenburgh held its first public hearing on the 2020 operating and capital budgets. Much of the public hearing focused on the question: Is the town raising property taxes? Supervisor Paul Feiner has been promoting that the tax rate is staying flat and there is “No Tax Rate Increase.”

The 2020 proposed operating budget benefits greatly from the recently enacted Westchester County sales tax increase. That 1% increase in the sales tax results in an increase of $3.2 million in revenue to the town, or about 3% of proposed expenses for 2020. That should have made it very reasonable to have a budget that covers the costs of inflation but does not raise taxes. The county government is doing it and so is Hartsdale Fire Department. The county is going even a step further and cutting the property tax levy.

So, in order to find out if taxes in Greenburgh are rising, I explicitly asked that question to the town comptroller (who prepares the budget) and the answer was unambiguously clear. Property taxes are increasing by $1.5 million in the town, a 2.2% tax increase for 2020. The supervisor is correct, the “tax rate” is staying flat, but the tax levy — the dollar amount in property taxes paid by homeowners — is increasing. Homeowners don’t pay the tax rate; homeowners pay taxes, and taxes are increasing. To suggest that this is a budget that does not include a tax increase is deceptive, and I am disappointed that the supervisor, even after being notified, has continued to make those statements. I’m also disappointed by the town board letting this go unchecked.

Several departments in the town are embracing efficiency and came in with operating budgets for 2020 below 2019 figures. These include the office of the comptroller, town clerk, town engineer and the SWAT division of police.

But there is a lot we could have done better. The budget has several large line items with little explanation or backup. The contingent account in the Town Outside Village (TOV) budget goes from $1.5 million to $3.9 million. At the hearing we were told that money was to cover potential costs of employees when the union contracts are renegotiated. If that is the case, this should be in the employee and benefits section. Another item I asked about is the $2.93 million “transfer to capital fund” out of the TOV budget. We were told this was to prefund capital projects without bonding for them, however we were not provided any details of what projects this would pay for. I would much rather see that figure at $1.4 million, and this budget be an actual zero tax increase budget.

The taxpayers of Greenburgh, homeowners throughout the village and unincorporated area, are hurting. With the loss of the SALT deduction and increasing taxes at every turn, taxpayers need relief. This was the year for us to hold the line on taxes. Considering the extra county sales tax money, dividends from the reassessment and decreases in tax certioraris, holding the line on taxes was possible. Unfortunately, this year’s budget will once again deliver Greenburgh taxpayers a tax increase.

ERIC ZINGER

N. Washington Avenue

Hartsdale