Village Budget for 2015-2016 Includes Property Tax Reduction; See Village Appointments
By Carol P. Bartold
Apr. 15, 2015: The Bronxville Board of Trustees, at its April 13 meeting, adopted a $15.2 million budget for 2015-2016 that will afford property owners a tax reduction.
Depending on property values, taxpayers can expect to realize a reduction in their tax bills of $56 to $450.
According to Village Administrator Jim Palmer, the 0.93 percent reduction in property tax rates to $3.04 per $1,000 in assessed value from the current rate of $3.07 will still provide an additional $378,000 in property tax revenue for 2015-2016. The total anticipated taxable value for 2015-2016 is approximately $3 billion, up from $2.8 billion for 2014-2015.
Palmer pointed to a very strong Bronxville housing market, as well as an anticipated strong building market, for the coming fiscal year as factors that will increase non-property tax revenue and thereby allow the property tax reduction.
Because of those factors, the 2015-2016 budget includes $750,000 in revenue from building permits, an increase over the approximately $400,000 collected as of February 28 for this fiscal year-to-date. The budget also anticipates mortgage tax revenues of $275,000. The village has collected $168,000 in mortgage revenues to date for the current fiscal year.
A new revenue category, franchise taxes, is expected to produce $160,000 in revenue. Palmer explained that the village levies the tax on agencies, such as utilities, that need to maintain their rights-of-way for wiring and conduits within the village.
Palmer also noted that the village expects an increase in fine revenue primarily due to the adoption of an additional penalty that pertains to parking and traffic tickets more than 30 days outstanding. "This additional penalty is consistent with all our neighboring communities," Palmer said, "and will keep us on par." The budget includes an increase of approximately $30,000 in revenues from fines.
The $15.2 million adopted budget represents a 3.5 percent increase over the 2014-2015 budget. Trustees elected to use $495,000 from the unappropriated fund balance to meet the budget. Palmer emphasized that, even with the use of those funds, the village maintains a fund balance that is more than 20 percent of the total budget and continues to garner the highest ratings from bond investment rating agencies. The high ratings allow the village to obtain the most favorable interest rates when issuing bonds.
Palmer stated that the village plans to convert bond action notices into bonds during 2015-2016 to fund several infrastructure projects. The bonds will allow the village to repave roads, make improvements to buildings, invest in the village sanitary sewer system, and maintain the storm water system.
"For the public, net-net, you will get the same level of services with a slight decrease in cost," Mayor Mary Marvin said. "I think we're very proud that we got there."
Below are appointments made by the mayor and village trustees to village positions, boards, and committees.
Appointed to one-year terms are Robert Underhill, deputy mayor; Village Treasurer Lori Voss, collector of taxes; Gerry Iagallo, village assessor; Eloise Morgan, village historian; and Ronnie James Ritz, village prosecutor.
Appointed to two-year terms are Village Administrator Jim Palmer, village clerk; and Lori Voss, village collector of taxes.
Appointments to boards and committees:
To the finance committee: Leighton Welch is reappointed for a two-year term to 2017; Donald Gray is appointed for a two-year term to 2017.
To the design review committee: Maureen Hackett and Mary Ann (Maggie) Marrone are each reappointed for two-year terms to 2017.
To the zoning board of appeals: Martin Murrer is appointed for a five-year term to 2020.
To the ethics board: Donald Kennedy, John Priesing, and Wendy Riggs are each reappointed for two-year terms to 2017; William G. Primps is reappointed as counsel for a one-year term to 2016.
To the library board of trustees: Peter Thorp is reappointed for a three-year term to 2018.
To the board of assessment: Robert Shearer is reappointed for a five-year term to 2020.
"I thank each and every one of these village residents for agreeing to give their time, talents, and many of their evenings to village government on a purely volunteer basis," Mayor Marvin stated. "It makes a huge difference."
Pictured here (L to R): Mary Marvin, mayor; Guy Longobardo, trustee; Jim Palmer, village administrator; and Jim Staudt, village attorney.
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.
Village of Bronxville Administrative Offices
337-6500
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Bronxville Police Department
337-0500
Open 24 hours
Bronxville Parking Violations
337-2024
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Bronxville Fire Deparment
793-6400
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