Apr. 23, 2014:  Bronxville property owners can expect to see only a slight increase in property taxes next year to support the village's 2014-2015 operating budget. The $14.8 million budget reflects a 1.79 percent tax rate increase, which, according to former village treasurer Robert Fels, translates to approximately $18 in additional property taxes per $1 million of a home's value.

The budget-to-budget increase from the current $14.3 million to $14.8 million for the fiscal year beginning June 1, 2014, or a 3.43 percent spending increase, represents primarily the addition of three staff positions.

The Bronxville Police Department will hire one officer, bringing the force to 21 officers. An office manager position has been budgeted to serve the building department and the department of public works, and a part-time administrative position in the village's main office has been expanded to a full-time position.

According to Mayor Mary Marvin, the Bronxville Police Department, with 20 to 21 officers since 2008, has operated at historic low staffing levels. She noted that in the past the department employed 23 to 25 officers.

Restoring one officer to the force, Marvin noted, "will help us get back to a bit more of the feeling of the small-town police department, and that's our real intention."

Marvin expressed hope that, with increased staffing, the police department can provide foot patrols in the village business district to support local merchants, reduce double-yellow-line violations, and provide more consistent speed level enforcement in areas where residents have observed and reported chronic problems. "Without the extra officer, those things clearly are just not happening," Marvin stated.

At a 2.87 percent tax levy increase over the 2013-2014 levy, the village's operating budget will exceed the New York State-mandated 2 percent tax levy cap. The board of trustees, at its February meeting, passed a tax cap override resolution, which allows municipalities to prioritize budgets based on needs rather than staying within the 2 percent restriction as a primary objective.

Mayor Marvin reported that, for the current year, workers' compensation premiums increased between 12 percent and 14 percent, depending on employee classification.

"If we did no more than pay the bills Albany sends us," she said, "that would reflect a 5 percent tax levy increase. All you would end up doing by staying under the tax levy cap is cutting services, because that's the only way to do it."

Capital Budget for 2014-2015

At $3.5 million for 2014-2015, the village's capital budget reflects a $1 million increase over the current year's budgeted capital outlays.

Under the capital budget, the village will focus on underground water and sanitary sewer systems, lighting throughout the village, and street resurfacing and curbing.

"The most important thing," Mayor Marvin said, "is we have a real emphasis in trying to get out in front of an aging infrastructure that is over one hundred years old."

Although the village is slated to receive $12,451.87 from New York State to help repair pothole damage from this year's snowstorms, Marvin noted that the funds will not "go far at all."

Pictured here:  Mayor Mary Marvin.

Photo by A. Warner