From the Mayor: Capital and Operating Budget Items for 2014-2015 Budget
Apr. 16, 2014: The trustees and I approved both a capital budget and a 2014-2015 operating budget at the April board of trustees meeting. Both reflect the changing face of the economy and the village in 2014.
Our capital budget of $3.5 million, almost one million dollars more than our last capital outlay, reflects the realization of a 100-year-old-plus aging infrastructure of our village. The only thing more costly than addressing issues now will be the cost of deferred maintenance.
We are addressing our underground water and sanitary sewer systems as a first priority as well as a resurfacing and curbing program of a record number of village streets.
In addition, New York State awarded the village a competitive grant of $350,000 to equip the Garden Avenue parking lot with a series of French drains to mitigate the flood waters that descend down Garden Avenue to the school complex helping both the school and residents in its path. Our required contribution is a capital expenditure of $100,000 in cash and $20,000 of in-kind services.
A significant dollar amount was also allotted to address both the quality and efficiency of lighting throughout the village.
In every capital budget, there are also major allocations for the normal but high-ticket turnover of village vehicles. Police cars run 24/7 daily and sanitation equipment is stored, unfortunately, outside. Vehicles reach a useful life and then the law of diminishing returns takes over with repairs becoming uneconomical.
Another area of significant capital expenditure is technology upgrades in village departments across the board in an effort to increase the village's efficiency and document retrieval system. You may notice that parking tickets may now be paid online with a credit card, just a tip of the iceberg of conveniences we hope to offer residents by year's end.
Police officers and parking enforcement officers also have all converted to writing any violations with handheld computers, thus eliminating the mistakes inherent in written transcription and then tabulation.
The building department is also converting property records to computerization in an effort to offer residents and realtors faster information transfer as well as eliminating the village's need for copious storage space going forward.
The above decisions were aided by our very advantageous bond rating of Aaa, the best we can achieve, which makes long-term borrowing opportune given the current economic climate. Combining very favorable interest rates with the knowledge of the future expense of delayed maintenance made many of our decisions prudently obvious.
The operating budget was a much more difficult challenge. From 2008 to the present, we kept trimming staff to achieve savings and in two successive years achieved a 0% tax increase. However, gauging the needs of the resident taxpayers, it became apparent that we had trimmed beyond the level of services residents expect in the village. Though our departments--police, buildings, and public works--will still remain at fifty-year-plus historic manning lows, we did backfill one position in each of the police and public works departments and actually added a position in the building and public works department to facilitate the move to computerized records as well as to increase response time to residents' questions/needs.
In the predictable recurring costs, we were fortunate that last year's double-digit pension and health care costs leveled off for a bit, with health care increasing only by a surprisingly low 3%.
However, increases in unfunded mandates from Albany simply returned locally on another line item, that of state workmen's compensation contributions, which increased an unsustainable 20 to 30%, depending on which village department. Workmen's compensation charges are this year's example of why a 2% tax cap is such hypocrisy and why spending responsibility must begin in Albany.
Village utility costs are increasing 5 to 10% in the year ahead, though we hope our lighting initiatives will decrease the costs in the near future.
After two years of 0% salary increases, our village hall staffers received a 1% increase in the new budget.
On the good news front, we conservatively anticipate sales tax, mortgage tax, and building permit revenue to increase as a result of an uptick in the economy as well as the many projects being undertaken in the village in 2014-2015.
The trustees had the impending upheaval associated with these projects in mind--be it the continuing Lawrence Hospital project, the Parkway Road bridge closure, the FEMA flood mitigation, the school's auditorium renovation, and the Kensington Road development--necessary but unprecedented in village history, as we redoubled efforts to find tax relief for residents. The end result is a 1.79% tax rate increase, which was reached after incredibly careful deliberation.
The relatively small increases, though tax increases nonetheless, will provide residents with better services going forward as well as much-needed repair of an aging infrastructure. Both the capital and operating budgets are available at village hall for review.
Financial & Legal Assistance Directory
Hymes & Associates, CPA, P.C.
Our firm provides outstanding service to our clients because of our dedication to the three underlying principles of professionalism, responsiveness, and quality.
Listed as one of the 10 largest firms by The Westchester Business Journal, we serve clients throughout the tri-state area. By combining our expertise, experience, and
the energy of our staff, each client receives close, personal and professional attention.
Our high standards, service, and specialized staff spell the difference between our outstanding performance and other firms. We make sure that every client
is served by the expertise of our whole firm.
Hymes & Associates, CPA, P.C.
55 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
914-961-1200
914-961-1715 (Fax)
Website: www.hymescpa.com
Baillie & Hershman
44 Pondfield Road, Suite - 12
Bronxville, N.Y. 10708
Office: 914-337-6300
Matthew W. Kerner, ESQ.
Direct Dial: 914-337-6569
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fax: 914-337-6913
Suzanne M. Bloomer, Esq.
Direct Dial: 914-337-0142
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Baillie & Hershman provides comprehensive Real Estate legal services for buyers, sellers, current owners, real estate agents and lenders. We also handle estate planning, including the drafting of wills.
Griffin, Coogan, Sulzer & Horgan, P.C.
Attorneys and Counselors at Law
Griffin, Googan, Sulzer & Horgan, R.C.
Located in Bronxville, New York, Griffin, Coogan, Sulzer & Horgan, P.C. takes great pride in providing our clients with comprehensive, high quality legal services in a responsive manner. The firm concentrates its practice in real estate law with a primary focus on issues relating to real estate tax litigation (also known as tax certiorari), real estate transactions, valuation law, real property taxation and tax planning and real property tax exemption matters throughout New York State.
The firm serves as general counsel for several local cooperatives and represents clients in various issues relating to wills, trusts and estate planning.
51 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
(914) 961-1300
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Nobile, Magarian & DiSalvo LLP
We are hardworking and dedicated attorneys who, combined, have more than 150 years of experience delivering quality legal advice. Our cutting edge is our ability to enter both the conference room and the courtroom with strength. Our law firm provides legal representation and counsel for both individual and business clients on issues related to estate planning and administration, real estate law, litigation, and business law. Our practice areas include: Commercial Litigation, Business Law, Real Estate, Wills, Estate Planning, Trusts, Estate Administration, Living Wills, Health Care Proxies, Powers of Attorney, Not For Profits, and Employment Law.
111 Kraft Avenue
Bronxville, NY 10708
914-337-6300
Veneruso, Curto, Schwartz & Curto, LLP
Veneruso, Curto, Schwartz & Curto is dedicated to providing businesses and individuals with exceptional legal services customized to each client's needs and objectives. Practice areas include litigation, real estate, not for profit, wills and estate planning, land use and zoning, business and corporate, cooperative and condominium and real estate tax assessment litigation.
The Hudson Valley Bank Building
35 East Grassy Sprain Road, Suite 400
Yonkers, New York 10710
914-779-1100
Aegis Capital
Steve brings 40 years of investing experience to his role as Senior Managing Director at Aegis Capital Corp., a prominent national securities firm.
Allstate
Auto, Home, Business and Life Insurance
Exclusive Agents:
Debbie M. Stockton
George L. Petronella Jr.
108 Kraft Avenue
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-961-7200
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://agent.allstate.com/DSTOCKTON2/Welcome/
John L. Vorbach Company, Inc. Insurance Brokers
Manhattan Media & Technology Center
65 Broadway, 9th Floor
New York, New York 10006
212-294-4900 x 112
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.vorbach.com
MDIC Investment Company
Mutual Funds, Stocks & Bonds, Financial & Estate Planning, Investment & Advisory Services, Life & Health Insurance
Daniel S. Macdonald, Jr.
116 Kraft Avenue, Ste. 8
Bronxville, New York 10708
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.mdicinc.com
Palmer-Tanno Agency, Inc.
Independent Insurance Agents since 1948
Greg Tanno
141 Parkway Road, Suite #11
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-793-6603
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Personal Risk Management Solutions
Focuses solely on personal insurance and
provides unique, customized solutions that save
money and time and create peace of mind.
Linda Graef Jones, Private Client Sales Executive
6 East 43rd Street
New York, New York 10017
914-645-3951
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ranieri Insurance Agency
Auto, Home, Business & Life
Over 50 Years' Experience
Paul D. Ranieri, CPCU
457 Palmer Road
Yonkers, NY
914-376-2560
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Rollins Agency, Inc.
Insurance and Risk Management Solutions
Since 1910
800 Westchester Ave. Suite N-311
Rye Brook, NY 10573
914-337-1833
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Financial Legal Assistance Recent Articles
Quick Links
Newsletter
MyhometownBroxnville reserves the right to monitor and remove all comments. For more information on Posting Rules, please review our Rules and Terms of Use, both of which govern the use and access of this site. Thank you.
The information presented here is for informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to present accurate information, myhometownBronxville, LLC, does not in any way accept responsibility for the accuracy of or consequences from the use of this information herein. We urge all users to independently confirm any information provided herein and consult with an appropriate professional concerning any material issue of fact or law. The views and opinions expressed by the writers, event organizers and advertisers do not necessarily represent those of myhometownBronxville, LLC, its officers, staff or contributors. The use of this website is governed by the Terms of Use . No portion of this publication may be reproduced or redistributed, either in whole or part, without the express written consent of the publisher.
Copyright © 2009 myhometownbronxville.com, All rights reserved.