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Legislative Changes Proposed at Public Hearing Herald 20 Percent Property Tax Rise
Public voices their issues on taxes and the 2007 budget, bus route in Western Putnam eliminated
by Margaret Sternberg
The Legislature listened attentively as members of the public voiced concerns at the September 26, 2006 Public Hearing on the 2007 County Budget, but began the evening with Legislature President Dan Birmingham explaining the changes the Legislature had made to County Executive Bob Bondi's original, tentative 2007 budget.
The Legislature eliminated $428,007 that had been anticipated County revenue based upon a plan involving fees assessed of all retirees to offset the cost of County reimbursement of Medicare Part B for those age 65 and older.
The Legislature also removed proposed sources of funding that it considered "unauthorized revenues," including $285,000 from a mortgage tax not approved by the state last year and $1.7 million in sales tax revenue that would have been generated by a proposed .25 percent increase in the sales tax. Birmingham said the County "does not have the authority to collect these revenues, which he then described as "speculative, at best," later terming them "phantom revenues" and calling their inclusion "irresponsible." In total, the Legislature removed almost $2.5 million in revenues anticipated by Mr. Bondi.
The Legislature also budgeted $95,247 to cover a deficit at Putnam Family & Community Services ("PFCS") created by escalating salaries and benefits for county employees who were required to be retained by the agency when it was privatized.
Birmingham concluded that "it is more responsible to build a budget with real and certain revenues than to place revenues in the budget that may never be realized."
Later, asked what the property tax rate will be if the revised budget is passed with no further revisions, President Birmingham said "20 percent," a number corroborated by Commissioner of Finance William Carlin, who said, "If they [the Legislature] pass everything they plan on passing, the increase in the County's share of property tax should be approximately 20 percent.
Birmingham said the tax increase was not something the Legislature was proud "to present to the people of Putnam County" but that he thought it was important that "the number be out there" and that people know "that's what we're talking about."
For residents of Philipstown, outside the villages, who for 2006 paid $7.19 per $1,000 assessed value, of which $3.09 went to the County and $4.10 to Philipstown, the increase would mean that for a house assessed at $400,000, property taxes would go from $2,876 to approximately $3,124.
For Putnam Valley residents, who now pay $4.36 per $1,000 assessed value, of which approximately $1.59 went to the County, $2.37 to Putnam Valley and .39 to the special/fire districts, the increase would mean that for a house assessed at $400,000, property taxes would go from $1,744 to approximately $1,868.
Both dollar figures assume that there is no increase in the individual Town's tax rates, just the County's.
Among the night's speakers was Joseph Fonseca, Treasurer of PFCS, who thanked the legislators on behalf of the organization and reminded them of the almost
1 million that PFCS has already spent to cover the costs of the County employees they have and that the organization's financial difficulties will continue.
Gina Skelton, of Southeast, proposed the elimination of the position of Coordinator of Community Affairs, a position, including salary, a "temp," benefits and incidentals that costs the County "at least" $100,000, according to Skelton. She said the position's holder serves as an "advocate and liaison to the County day laborer population...in Brewster, a population that most will acknowledge has mainly members with either unknown or questionable legal status in this country." Skelton questioned whether the "legal residents of Putnam County" should bear the costs "to provide services to people who are, at best, of questionable legal status" and suggested that the elimination of the position would have provided the funds needed by the PCFS.
Maria Gkanios also expressed anger toward the County, noting that signs had been posted for the "illegal aliens to get their immunization shots...and it's free to them..."
One resident raised general objections to the raising of taxes based upon being on a fixed income, saying she was being "forced out" of the County.
Maureen Petrillo, spokeswoman for Unit 8150 of the CSEA, expressed the Union's concern that the 2007 budget had not included salary increases for its members, describing it as "wrong to deny them increases." She predicted "the County is leaving itself open to possible shortfalls in the near future by not projecting a possible raise," going on to express concern about the consolidation of services and describing Putnam County staffing levels as at "bare bones." She asked the Legislature to ensure the Administration "does not place an undue burden on our membership..."
President Birmingham took copious notes during the speeches and later said that he would "follow up on everything" that had been said during the evening.
Immediately following the Public Hearing on the Budget, the Legislature held a Public Hearing on the Termination of the PART 4 Bus Route, which had been proposed due to decreased ridership and the introduction of the new trolleys in the Cold Spring area, which the PART 4 bus route had covered.
No member of the public spoke, and the Legislature voted unanimously, with the exception of Legislator Robert McGuigan, who was absent, to terminate the Route.
The 2007 Budget was scheduled to be adopted at a Special Meeting of the full Legislature on October 3.
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