Village Trustees Send Message to Albany: Modify Two Percent Tax Cap
By Carol P. Bartold
Jun. 10, 2015: Responding to indications from Albany that the statewide two percent property tax cap is likely to become permanent, the Bronxville Board of Trustees, at its June 8 meeting, adopted a nonbinding resolution to exempt health insurance premium increases in excess of the cap from the tax cap calculation.
Passed by the New York State Legislature in 2011, the cap, set to expire in 2016, limits annual property tax increases levied by municipalities and school districts to the lesser of two percent and the rate of inflation. Village Administrator Jim Palmer pointed out that during the 2014-2015 fiscal year, communities faced a tax cap of 1.58 percent.
"Obviously, as you understand, to fund infrastructure and capital improvements, those items go well beyond 1.58 percent," Palmer said.
He added that the tax cap imposes a significant obstacle for communities to perform planned infrastructure maintenance and capital improvement projects. While complying with the cap discourages communities from improving infrastructure, those communities also can find themselves under a consent decree from the state to fund mandated repairs, and exceed the cap, or face thousands of dollars in fines.
Mayor Mary Marvin noted that the New York State comptroller indicated that approximately two thirds of infrastructure repairs statewide are not being done because of the tax cap. "This resolution," she said, "is an effort to say if we're stuck with this, at least modify it to become a little more rational."
She also stated that, while she supported the resolution, she believes that "we're stuck with the tax cap."
"There are costs associated with the cap," Palmer said, "and infrastructure is one of them."
Pictured here: Deputy Mayor Robert Underhill (L) and trustee Guy Longobardo.
Photo by Carol P. Bartold
Government & History Directory
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
Link to Village of Bronxville One Square Mile Monthly Newsletter
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
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