2024 Greenburgh budget message ---budget in it's entirety will be posted on the town website: www.greenburghny.com later today. Town Board has until December 20th to adopt a final budget.
Oct 31, 2023
For the past four accounting fiscal years, I have brought to the Town Board, and they have approved, Town budgets, for the Unincorporated Town and the Town Entire, which have kept Property Tax rates relatively flat. Therefore, there were no tax rate hikes in Fiscal Years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
This year I am proposing to the Town Board that we enact budgets which will raise taxes by 1.7% for the Unincorporated Town, and a decrease of .5% for the Town Entire. On July 13, 2023, NYS Comptroller DiNapoli stated that “Allowable Tax Levy growth will be limited to 2%,” allowing Municipalities which required additional Property Tax revenue to increase their Property Tax rates. The increases I am proposing are far below the 6.26% inflation rate calculated by the Comptroller’s Office.
Raising taxes is not something anyone on the Town Board wants to do, however after several years of increased costs due to personnel contract negotiations, and the high levels of inflation the entire Country is experiencing, it is financially prudent to move forward with an increase.
During the past few years, although salaries and operating costs have increased, fee income from development in our Town, which has burgeoned with new facilities and construction, has kept pace with additional costs, and we were able to avoid increasing Property Taxes.
On Friday of last week, I met with the Town’s Auditing firm, and they recommended that the Board should consider amending the Town’s Fund Balance policy so that increasing the upper range requirement would allow greater flexibility for long-term savings. That suggestion is included in the budget proposal.
Please note, I have included in the budget $150,000 for a new position, Director of Operations, to work under my supervision to oversee large scale projects, provide fiscal information, both Operational and Capital in nature, to the Town Board in a more timely fashion, to work with Supervisory Staff to determine areas of savings and greater efficiencies, and to study trends in spending and revenue on an ongoing basis. The Director of Operations will work with the Town Board and myself exploring any and all options identifiable for increasing revenues and decreasing costs without impacting the provision of services.
Greenburgh residents should take pride in the fact that their Town Services are among the best, if not the best in Westchester County. Throughout these challenging years, we have maintained a AAA bond rating, now for over a decade. Our services are extraordinary and our devoted Town staff does a great job and really cares about our residents. This year Greenburgh was named the 9th best place to live for families by FORTUNE Magazine. MONEY Magazine named us the 8th best place in the northeast. And Westchester Magazine included Greenburgh in their Best Places to live in October, 2023.
As you review your tax bill, you will note that for residents of the Unincorporated Town only approximately 15% of your entire Property Tax bill is utilized to pay for all of the numerous and qualitative services you receive from the Town. The school, Fire District, and other non-Greenburgh municipal fees and charges, not accruing to, or controlled by the Town make up 85% of your bill. Simply put, the Town provides services which residents of the Unincorporated Town receive and enjoy, at an exceptionally reasonable price.
For residents of the “Villages,” in excess of 98% of your Property Taxes are paid to entities other than the Town, as the great majority of your services are provided by your own Village, and School systems, and the County.
Please allow me to take this opportunity to acknowledge and express my appreciation to the employees of our Town, who have selflessly provided services in a qualitative and unabated manner. We have been blessed with a devoted workforce, which continually does everything necessary to ensure all our families were, are and will continue to be safe.
Changes in the Assessment Role designed to equitably equalize each property owner’s share of the Property Tax Levy have been implemented. Some residents might see increases in their Tax Bill, while others will remain the same or see decreases.
Fiscal stability is a hallmark of the Town of Greenburgh, thanks to our informed and supportive citizens, the strength of our Departmental Managers and Personnel, and the diverse and long-time experience of our Town Board. We believe in working together; we will continue to be fine.
With great appreciation and respect,
PAUL FEINER
Town Supervisor
2024 BUDGET SUMMARY
TOWN WIDE: (A Budget)
Tax rate decrease = 0.53%
Total Appropriations = $24.2 million, up $2.6 million from 2023
For a resident whose home is assessed at $500,000 there would be a decrease in the taxes they pay in 2024 compared to 2023 – $209.98 in 2024 vs. $211.10 in 2023, with a savings of $1.12 per $500,000 of assessed value.
TOWN OUTSIDE: (B Budget)
Tax rate increase = 1.98% (A Fund and B Fund combined)
Total Appropriations = $103.9 million, up $10.2 million from 2023
For a resident whose home is assessed at $500,000 there would be an increase in the taxes they pay in 2024 compared to 2023 – $2,791.81 in 2024 vs. $2,737.58 in 2023, with an increase of $54.23 per $500,000 of assessed value.