July 10, 2006
Residents mobilize against KJ By Chris McKennaTimes Herald-Recordcmckenna@th-record.com
In southern Blooming Grove, residents pour into a firehouse and vote overwhelmingly to form their own village, even if that means placing another layer of government - and taxes - over themselves.
A week later, two other momentous votes: one to stop Kiryas Joel from erecting water storage tanks on Orange County parkland and the other to let a developer build 451 homes in neighboring Woodbury.
Three closely watched votes in the space of a week, all tied directly or indirectly to Kiryas Joel and its growth. Each outcome reflected, to some degree, a growing determination by neighbors to prevent the village from encroaching - even if that meant extraordinary steps.
Take the decision in Woodbury.
It's almost unthinkable that people in Orange County would mobilize in support of a housing development, much less a big one that needs zoning breaks. The usual course would be to wage war against it.
But Thursday night, a crowd cheered as the Woodbury Town Board cleared the way for 451 new houses. Why were they celebrating? At least partly because it meant those 400 acres would never sprout something worse, in their view: Kiryas Joel-style condominium buildings.
"Granted, it's going to create more volume," supporter Steve Gunset reasoned after the board vote. "But if Kiryas Joel were to get it, it would create 30 times that volume."
Kiryas Joel's diminished clout has been evident since 2004, when opponents pressured the county government into challenging the village's plans to tap the Catskill Aqueduct. The pendulum swung toward the critics, whose enormous grass-roots support suddenly countered the power of Kiryas Joel's voting bloc.
The three recent votes have underscored this new political landscape, one of perpetual conflict for Kiryas Joel's leaders.
"We're very concerned and nervous about the reaction of ordinary people," Gedalye Szegedin, the village administrator, said Friday. "We believe that ordinary people are misled by a few who want to use Kiryas Joel to scare people away."
But those on the opposite side of the debate make a similar charge about Kiryas Joel's leaders - that their tactics and rhetoric invite opposition, to the detriment of their constituents.
Jonathan Swiller, the Woodbury activist whose organization, OCEAN, fought the water tanks and supported the 451-home Woodbury project, regards those and the Blooming Grove votes as a repudiation of the insensitivity of Kiryas Joel's leadership.
"They are all, in one way or another, reactions to the way that Szegedin deals with his neighbors, which is to say, with disdain," Swiller said.
In the end, the growth causing so much strife comes down to an unchanging cultural pattern. Each year, up to 200 couples marry and settle in Kiryas Joel. For the leadership, that means roughly the same number of homes must be built on a shrinking supply of village land.
"Kiryas Joel doesn't want to take over Woodbury," Szegedin said. "Kiryas Joel doesn't want to take over Monroe. Kiryas Joel doesn't want to take over Blooming Grove. We want to provide for the couple of hundred marriages that take place in Kiryas Joel in a year."
Monday, July 10, 2006
Friday, July 07, 2006
Take the parkland by eminent domain.
July 07, 2006
Legislature rejects KJ water tank plan
Officials mull new pumping options
By Brendan Scott
Times Herald-Record
bscott@th-record.com
Goshen - Whether you see it as a victory for open space or the latest political rebuke against the Village of Kiryas Joel, Orange County lawmakers last night rejected the village's plan to build a pair of water storage tanks in a new county park.
The decisive "no" vote capped off more than a month of debate over what might have otherwise appeared a simple request for a favor: Kiryas Joel said it needed to erect the tanks in the Gonzaga property to boost water pressure for firefighting.
The towns that surround the Hasidic community, however, argued the move was an unnecessary land grab by Kiryas Joel. Thus, the water tank proposal provided yet another rallying cry against the village's explosive growth and strong political influence.
"The fact that it would be inconvenient or more expensive to the village to install pumping stations versus water towers on high ground should not scare you on this Legislature from deciding this issue for a village that builds first and plans later," said Phyllis Rampulla of South Blooming Grove, one of more than 100 in the audience.
The Legislature agreed. The proposal failed 2-17 with one absence and one abstention.
But if anything, last night's vote underscored how the political influence of Kiryas Joel's critics has eclipsed that of the village in the county Legislature. The result follows the Legislature's 2004 decision to sue the village and stall its unrelated plan to draw water from the New York City Aqueduct.
As during that vote, County Executive Ed Diana stayed silent during the water tank debate, even though he had carried the proposal to the Legislature. Like two years ago, Legislator Michael Amo, R-Central Valley, whose district is dominated by Kiryas Joel, argued that the village was being singled out.
But several lawmakers who said they might have otherwise supported the water tank proposal said Kiryas Joel failed to convince him that building the tanks on the Gonzaga land was necessary.
After the vote, Kiryas Joel Administrator Gedalye Szegedin said the village's options included building a pumping station, erecting a higher tower or trying to take the parkland by eminent domain.
Legislature rejects KJ water tank plan
Officials mull new pumping options
By Brendan Scott
Times Herald-Record
bscott@th-record.com
Goshen - Whether you see it as a victory for open space or the latest political rebuke against the Village of Kiryas Joel, Orange County lawmakers last night rejected the village's plan to build a pair of water storage tanks in a new county park.
The decisive "no" vote capped off more than a month of debate over what might have otherwise appeared a simple request for a favor: Kiryas Joel said it needed to erect the tanks in the Gonzaga property to boost water pressure for firefighting.
The towns that surround the Hasidic community, however, argued the move was an unnecessary land grab by Kiryas Joel. Thus, the water tank proposal provided yet another rallying cry against the village's explosive growth and strong political influence.
"The fact that it would be inconvenient or more expensive to the village to install pumping stations versus water towers on high ground should not scare you on this Legislature from deciding this issue for a village that builds first and plans later," said Phyllis Rampulla of South Blooming Grove, one of more than 100 in the audience.
The Legislature agreed. The proposal failed 2-17 with one absence and one abstention.
But if anything, last night's vote underscored how the political influence of Kiryas Joel's critics has eclipsed that of the village in the county Legislature. The result follows the Legislature's 2004 decision to sue the village and stall its unrelated plan to draw water from the New York City Aqueduct.
As during that vote, County Executive Ed Diana stayed silent during the water tank debate, even though he had carried the proposal to the Legislature. Like two years ago, Legislator Michael Amo, R-Central Valley, whose district is dominated by Kiryas Joel, argued that the village was being singled out.
But several lawmakers who said they might have otherwise supported the water tank proposal said Kiryas Joel failed to convince him that building the tanks on the Gonzaga land was necessary.
After the vote, Kiryas Joel Administrator Gedalye Szegedin said the village's options included building a pumping station, erecting a higher tower or trying to take the parkland by eminent domain.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Bullied kids have more behavioral problems
Bullied kids have more behavioral problems Thu Jul 6, 12:18 PM ET
Children who are bullied during their early school years may experience behavior problems as a result, new study findings suggest.
"Our results indicate that bullying victimization in the early school years is an influential experience for a child's behavioral development and mental health problems," study author Dr. Louise Arseneault, of King's College, London, and her colleagues write.
"Prevention and intervention programs aimed at reducing mental health problems during childhood should target bullying as an important risk factor," they add.
According to previous research, victimization may be associated with mental health problems in adults. It is also known that some mental health problems in adults stem from poor mental health in childhood. In the current study, Arseneault and her team investigated bullying in childhood, looking at the extent to which bullying contributed to later adjustment problems.
They analyzed information for 2,232 subjects who participated in home-visit assessments at 5 years old and follow-up assessments at age 7.
Those assessments revealed that the majority of children had never bullied another child or experienced bullying between ages 5 and 7. However, 14.4 percent were "pure victims" and 6.2 percent were "bully/victims," children who had been bullied and who also victimized others. Another 1,387 children who were not involved in bullying served as a comparison, or "control," group.
Both groups of children had significantly more behavior problems and problems adjusting in school at 7 years old, compared with the control children, the investigators report in the journal Pediatrics.
Pure victims had more internalizing problems, such as being withdrawn, anxious or depressed, and were also more unhappy at school compared with children in the control group.
Bully/victims also had internalizing problems. In addition, they had fewer prosocial behaviors, such as being considerate of other people's feelings; and were less happy at school at age 7 compared with the pure victims and children in the control group.
In light of their findings, "bullying could be regarded as a stressful life event that might influence children's normal development," Arseneault and her co-authors conclude.
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
Abraham Lincoln
Children who are bullied during their early school years may experience behavior problems as a result, new study findings suggest.
"Our results indicate that bullying victimization in the early school years is an influential experience for a child's behavioral development and mental health problems," study author Dr. Louise Arseneault, of King's College, London, and her colleagues write.
"Prevention and intervention programs aimed at reducing mental health problems during childhood should target bullying as an important risk factor," they add.
According to previous research, victimization may be associated with mental health problems in adults. It is also known that some mental health problems in adults stem from poor mental health in childhood. In the current study, Arseneault and her team investigated bullying in childhood, looking at the extent to which bullying contributed to later adjustment problems.
They analyzed information for 2,232 subjects who participated in home-visit assessments at 5 years old and follow-up assessments at age 7.
Those assessments revealed that the majority of children had never bullied another child or experienced bullying between ages 5 and 7. However, 14.4 percent were "pure victims" and 6.2 percent were "bully/victims," children who had been bullied and who also victimized others. Another 1,387 children who were not involved in bullying served as a comparison, or "control," group.
Both groups of children had significantly more behavior problems and problems adjusting in school at 7 years old, compared with the control children, the investigators report in the journal Pediatrics.
Pure victims had more internalizing problems, such as being withdrawn, anxious or depressed, and were also more unhappy at school compared with children in the control group.
Bully/victims also had internalizing problems. In addition, they had fewer prosocial behaviors, such as being considerate of other people's feelings; and were less happy at school at age 7 compared with the pure victims and children in the control group.
In light of their findings, "bullying could be regarded as a stressful life event that might influence children's normal development," Arseneault and her co-authors conclude.
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
Abraham Lincoln
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Hot air, wet pants spice up election race
Hot air, wet pants spice up election race By Catherine Bremer
Fri Jun 16, 10:25 AM ET
A squawking wild turkey as president, voodoo, a dancing grandpa pharmacist and a nervous criminal urinating in his pants on television -- welcome to Mexico's election race, as wacky as it is vitriolic.
Full of colorful insults, blaring pop songs and nonsensical sparring, the campaign for the July 2 election has been based as much on personalities and petty point-scoring as policies.
Sick of weeks of mudslinging and silliness, voters have been sticking pins in voodoo dolls of the candidates, and the Federal Election Institute has axed some political ads as too slanderous to be aired.
"It's a very basic, very crude, very coarse, very clumsy election campaign," commentator Guadalupe Loaeza told Reuters.
The battle for the presidency is the first since 71 years of one-party rule ended in 2000 and fierce competition between the three main parties has sparked flaming tensions.
Probably the oddest campaign moment yet is a TV ad by third-place candidate Roberto Madrazo showing a criminal wetting his pants out of fear for Madrazo's tough stance on crime.
"For me, it's lacking in creativity. Vulgar. It's resorting to something very childish," said Loaeza.
Among outlawed ads are spots by conservative Felipe Calderon calling his leftist arch-rival Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador a danger and linking him to Venezuela's fiery leader Hugo Chavez.
Calderon, a balding lawyer whose hairline is inked in on his campaign posters, is in a neck-and-neck race with Lopez Obrador, a crusader for the poor who dons floral garlands and tropical-style guayabera shirts.
In their latest spat, Lopez Obrador sent Calderon's campaign office huge cardboard boxes he said contained documents proving Calderon awarded his brother-in-law lucrative contracts when energy minister.
But Calderon said the boxes were a farce, empty but for a few meaningless papers. He said his rival was a liar, called him "Lopez Hablador" (Lopez Talker) and his aides "clowns."
Rhetoric has been harsh, reflecting a nation split between left and right that is still learning some of the rules of democracy.
"If the players persist in just insulting each other, they may win the contest but could not lead the country," wrote columnist Javier Oliva in daily La Jornada.
DANCING PHARMACIST
Lopez Obrador has laid into President Vicente Fox, who he says is illegally helping Calderon, dubbing him a "chachalaca" -- a wild turkey known for its piercing squawk.
"He acts like a chachalaca, he screeches like a chachalaca," the leftist said, also accusing Fox of "verbal incontinence."
Keeping with the bird theme, he told supporters after a heated election debate last week that his rivals "came to eat pigeon, but what they got was a fighting cock."
Amid all the madness, frustrated voters have lobbed plastic bottles, paper airplanes and inflated condoms at candidates and even offered one, Patricia Mercado, a puff of marijuana.
Some of the most colorful campaigners cannot legally run because no political party will back them.
They include oddball magnate Victor Gonzalez, who has adopted the persona of his pharmacy chain's rotund and grandfatherly mascot, "Dr Simi," with fluffy white hair and mustache.
Claiming more Mexican fans than Mickey Mouse, and fond of models in mini-skirts, Gonzalez hires people to wear spongy Dr Simi costumes and dance outside his pharmacies.
"I have money but I earned it honestly. I have women but I am single. The people love these things," he said recently.
Also seeking support is Zapatista rebel leader Subcomandante Marcos, who gave his first live TV interview in years in his trademark ski mask and smoking his pipe to call for the overthrow of the government, whoever wins.
Fri Jun 16, 10:25 AM ET
A squawking wild turkey as president, voodoo, a dancing grandpa pharmacist and a nervous criminal urinating in his pants on television -- welcome to Mexico's election race, as wacky as it is vitriolic.
Full of colorful insults, blaring pop songs and nonsensical sparring, the campaign for the July 2 election has been based as much on personalities and petty point-scoring as policies.
Sick of weeks of mudslinging and silliness, voters have been sticking pins in voodoo dolls of the candidates, and the Federal Election Institute has axed some political ads as too slanderous to be aired.
"It's a very basic, very crude, very coarse, very clumsy election campaign," commentator Guadalupe Loaeza told Reuters.
The battle for the presidency is the first since 71 years of one-party rule ended in 2000 and fierce competition between the three main parties has sparked flaming tensions.
Probably the oddest campaign moment yet is a TV ad by third-place candidate Roberto Madrazo showing a criminal wetting his pants out of fear for Madrazo's tough stance on crime.
"For me, it's lacking in creativity. Vulgar. It's resorting to something very childish," said Loaeza.
Among outlawed ads are spots by conservative Felipe Calderon calling his leftist arch-rival Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador a danger and linking him to Venezuela's fiery leader Hugo Chavez.
Calderon, a balding lawyer whose hairline is inked in on his campaign posters, is in a neck-and-neck race with Lopez Obrador, a crusader for the poor who dons floral garlands and tropical-style guayabera shirts.
In their latest spat, Lopez Obrador sent Calderon's campaign office huge cardboard boxes he said contained documents proving Calderon awarded his brother-in-law lucrative contracts when energy minister.
But Calderon said the boxes were a farce, empty but for a few meaningless papers. He said his rival was a liar, called him "Lopez Hablador" (Lopez Talker) and his aides "clowns."
Rhetoric has been harsh, reflecting a nation split between left and right that is still learning some of the rules of democracy.
"If the players persist in just insulting each other, they may win the contest but could not lead the country," wrote columnist Javier Oliva in daily La Jornada.
DANCING PHARMACIST
Lopez Obrador has laid into President Vicente Fox, who he says is illegally helping Calderon, dubbing him a "chachalaca" -- a wild turkey known for its piercing squawk.
"He acts like a chachalaca, he screeches like a chachalaca," the leftist said, also accusing Fox of "verbal incontinence."
Keeping with the bird theme, he told supporters after a heated election debate last week that his rivals "came to eat pigeon, but what they got was a fighting cock."
Amid all the madness, frustrated voters have lobbed plastic bottles, paper airplanes and inflated condoms at candidates and even offered one, Patricia Mercado, a puff of marijuana.
Some of the most colorful campaigners cannot legally run because no political party will back them.
They include oddball magnate Victor Gonzalez, who has adopted the persona of his pharmacy chain's rotund and grandfatherly mascot, "Dr Simi," with fluffy white hair and mustache.
Claiming more Mexican fans than Mickey Mouse, and fond of models in mini-skirts, Gonzalez hires people to wear spongy Dr Simi costumes and dance outside his pharmacies.
"I have money but I earned it honestly. I have women but I am single. The people love these things," he said recently.
Also seeking support is Zapatista rebel leader Subcomandante Marcos, who gave his first live TV interview in years in his trademark ski mask and smoking his pipe to call for the overthrow of the government, whoever wins.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Reassessments bring fairness
Reassessments bring fairness
To the Editor:
As the southern regional director of the State Office of Real Property Services, I am writing in regard to the issue of property taxes.
This year, nearly 350 municipalities are conducting reassessments in order to provide fair assessments for their taxpayers. This is no easy task, especially when real estate values nationwide have increased dramatically in recent years.
As property values change, it is important for local assessors to adjust assessments - typically by conducting reassessments. When assessments aren’t adjusted to reflect changing real estate values, some property owners will pay too much in taxes while others will pay less than their fair share; in fact, some taxpayers will actually subsidize the tax bills of others.
Reassessments do not collect more taxes for school districts, counties, cities, and towns. Rather, reassessments ensure that the taxes to be collected are distributed fairly among all taxpayers.
Many taxpayers don’t realize that an increase in their assessment does not necessarily mean that their taxes will increase. After a reassessment, some taxpayers may see their tax bills decrease even if their assessments increase.
In almost all communities conducting reassessments, assessments will be determined at market value. In communities assessing at less than 100 percent of market value, the estimated market value of each property is listed on the tentative assessment roll. If this estimated market value reflects roughly the price for which you could sell your property, then you are probably assessed fairly.
Each year, property owners should check the tentative roll, which becomes available in early May in most municipalities. Of course, not everyone may agree exactly with his or her assessment. If you have questions or concerns, you should discuss them with your assessor.
To learn more about these and other topics, readers are invited to visit the Office of Real Property Services’ website: www.orps.state.ny.us.
John Wolham
Regional Director, Southern Region
New York State Office of Real Property Services
To the Editor:
As the southern regional director of the State Office of Real Property Services, I am writing in regard to the issue of property taxes.
This year, nearly 350 municipalities are conducting reassessments in order to provide fair assessments for their taxpayers. This is no easy task, especially when real estate values nationwide have increased dramatically in recent years.
As property values change, it is important for local assessors to adjust assessments - typically by conducting reassessments. When assessments aren’t adjusted to reflect changing real estate values, some property owners will pay too much in taxes while others will pay less than their fair share; in fact, some taxpayers will actually subsidize the tax bills of others.
Reassessments do not collect more taxes for school districts, counties, cities, and towns. Rather, reassessments ensure that the taxes to be collected are distributed fairly among all taxpayers.
Many taxpayers don’t realize that an increase in their assessment does not necessarily mean that their taxes will increase. After a reassessment, some taxpayers may see their tax bills decrease even if their assessments increase.
In almost all communities conducting reassessments, assessments will be determined at market value. In communities assessing at less than 100 percent of market value, the estimated market value of each property is listed on the tentative assessment roll. If this estimated market value reflects roughly the price for which you could sell your property, then you are probably assessed fairly.
Each year, property owners should check the tentative roll, which becomes available in early May in most municipalities. Of course, not everyone may agree exactly with his or her assessment. If you have questions or concerns, you should discuss them with your assessor.
To learn more about these and other topics, readers are invited to visit the Office of Real Property Services’ website: www.orps.state.ny.us.
John Wolham
Regional Director, Southern Region
New York State Office of Real Property Services
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
I welcome your comments….
Politics is about serving the people who elected you to office. It’s about working to improve and enhance the quality of life of all residents, despite what the uninformed have said and the misinformation and attempts to sow confusion in the minds of residents. I welcome your comments….
Voters may create village
May 23, 2006
Voters may create village
Blooming Grove petition ruled valid
By Chris McKenna
Times Herald-Record
cmckenna@th-record.com
Blooming Grove - A state judge has cleared the way for residents of southern Blooming Grove to decide whether to establish the first new village in Orange County since Kiryas Joel formed in 1977.
State Supreme Court Justice Lawrence Horowitz ruled Friday that a petition signed by nearly 1,000 residents of the proposed village is valid, dismissing a litany of technical objections brought by landowners hoping to derail the effort.
The ruling compels Blooming Grove to schedule a referendum for voters in the 4.8-square-mile area straddling Route 208 that would constitute the Village of South Blooming Grove. Almost 2,800 people live in that area.
"This is very good news," Garry Dugan, a leader of the petition drive, said yesterday.
Both he and Spencer McLaughlin, a lawyer who has advised Dugan's group, said the proposal still carries momentum, despite the nearly two years that have elapsed since residents mobilized to take control of their zoning and stave off high-density building.
South Blooming Grove was one of three new villages contemplated in 2004 as people in areas outside the Hasidic community of Kiryas Joel scrambled to prevent the densely populated village from expanding into their suburban neighborhoods.
Hal Greene, a key opponent of the creation of the village, said yesterday that he would leave any appeal to the investor group that recently bought a controlling interest in the 862-acre Lake Anne Country Club, which Greene's family owned for decades.
One influential member of that partnership told the Times Herald-Record earlier this year that he had no interest in appealing.
"The whole lawsuit was nonsense," said Ziggy Brach. He and his business partners hope to build as many as 300 homes on the property. Brach said he saw no reason to fight the creation of a village because he doesn't expect its leaders to tighten Lake Anne's zoning.
Greene was ambivalent about the court decision. He still worries about the zoning uncertainty if a village is formed. But he said allowing the process to move forward might lift suspicion that Brach, who is Hasidic, and the other Hasidic buyers intend to establish another "Jewish village."
A petition to transform most of neighboring Woodbury into a village was submitted in 2004 and challenged; the case is now before the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court. A third proposal, to incorporate Salisbury Mills as a village, never got off the ground.
Voters may create village
Blooming Grove petition ruled valid
By Chris McKenna
Times Herald-Record
cmckenna@th-record.com
Blooming Grove - A state judge has cleared the way for residents of southern Blooming Grove to decide whether to establish the first new village in Orange County since Kiryas Joel formed in 1977.
State Supreme Court Justice Lawrence Horowitz ruled Friday that a petition signed by nearly 1,000 residents of the proposed village is valid, dismissing a litany of technical objections brought by landowners hoping to derail the effort.
The ruling compels Blooming Grove to schedule a referendum for voters in the 4.8-square-mile area straddling Route 208 that would constitute the Village of South Blooming Grove. Almost 2,800 people live in that area.
"This is very good news," Garry Dugan, a leader of the petition drive, said yesterday.
Both he and Spencer McLaughlin, a lawyer who has advised Dugan's group, said the proposal still carries momentum, despite the nearly two years that have elapsed since residents mobilized to take control of their zoning and stave off high-density building.
South Blooming Grove was one of three new villages contemplated in 2004 as people in areas outside the Hasidic community of Kiryas Joel scrambled to prevent the densely populated village from expanding into their suburban neighborhoods.
Hal Greene, a key opponent of the creation of the village, said yesterday that he would leave any appeal to the investor group that recently bought a controlling interest in the 862-acre Lake Anne Country Club, which Greene's family owned for decades.
One influential member of that partnership told the Times Herald-Record earlier this year that he had no interest in appealing.
"The whole lawsuit was nonsense," said Ziggy Brach. He and his business partners hope to build as many as 300 homes on the property. Brach said he saw no reason to fight the creation of a village because he doesn't expect its leaders to tighten Lake Anne's zoning.
Greene was ambivalent about the court decision. He still worries about the zoning uncertainty if a village is formed. But he said allowing the process to move forward might lift suspicion that Brach, who is Hasidic, and the other Hasidic buyers intend to establish another "Jewish village."
A petition to transform most of neighboring Woodbury into a village was submitted in 2004 and challenged; the case is now before the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court. A third proposal, to incorporate Salisbury Mills as a village, never got off the ground.
Friday, May 19, 2006
How to File For a Review of Your Assessment
How to File For a Review of Your Assessment
A Guide for Property Owners
Printable pdf booklets:
38-page How to File booklet - includes large print and sample forms
16-page reduced How to File booklet
HTML version:
Purpose of this Publication
General Guidelines
Key Dates
Assessment Review Process (BAR)
Step-by-Step through form RP-524
sample form
blank RP-524 form (pdf)
Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR)
Step-by-Step through review petition RPTL-730;
sample form
blank SCAR Petition (pdf)
Also see: Glossary, How Estimates of Market Value are Determined for Residential Properties
A Guide for Property Owners
Printable pdf booklets:
38-page How to File booklet - includes large print and sample forms
16-page reduced How to File booklet
HTML version:
Purpose of this Publication
General Guidelines
Key Dates
Assessment Review Process (BAR)
Step-by-Step through form RP-524
sample form
blank RP-524 form (pdf)
Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR)
Step-by-Step through review petition RPTL-730;
sample form
blank SCAR Petition (pdf)
Also see: Glossary, How Estimates of Market Value are Determined for Residential Properties
NYS Office of Real Property Services
New York
NYS Office of Real Property Services. The Mission of the Office of Real Property Services is: "To lead the State's efforts to support local governments in their pursuit of real property tax equity." Appeals must be postmarked no later than 30 days after final assessment roll is filed... Dates vary see: Filing Dates. Initial grievance must be filed with the board of assessment review, upon notice of board of assessment review's determination an appeal can be filed with the small claim assessment review section of the NYS Supreme court. >A successful appeal is based upon first establishing the Market Value of your property. In order to reduce your property taxes you must prove that the value of your property is less than the valuation assigned by your assessing district (according to New York State Law, the Assessment is deemed to be correct, and the burdon of proof, falls on the petitioner-homeowner to prove otherwise). A recent bonafide arms length sale of the subject property is the best evidence. If the property was not recently purchased, or the purchase was not at arms length (as in an inter-family sale, foreclosure or other sale made under conditions of distress), An Appraisal by a New York State Certified Appraiser is the next best type of evidence, which is typically used to prove value of your home throughout the process. To determine if you are over assessed, you can multiply the estimated market value of your property by the residential assessment ratio (RAR-see listings above) that has been establshed for your assessing district. If the result is lower than your property's current assessed value, you may reasonably expect that your assessment be reduced to that amount with proper proof and timely filing in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the New York State Office Of Real Property Services.
NYS Office of Real Property Services. The Mission of the Office of Real Property Services is: "To lead the State's efforts to support local governments in their pursuit of real property tax equity." Appeals must be postmarked no later than 30 days after final assessment roll is filed... Dates vary see: Filing Dates. Initial grievance must be filed with the board of assessment review, upon notice of board of assessment review's determination an appeal can be filed with the small claim assessment review section of the NYS Supreme court. >A successful appeal is based upon first establishing the Market Value of your property. In order to reduce your property taxes you must prove that the value of your property is less than the valuation assigned by your assessing district (according to New York State Law, the Assessment is deemed to be correct, and the burdon of proof, falls on the petitioner-homeowner to prove otherwise). A recent bonafide arms length sale of the subject property is the best evidence. If the property was not recently purchased, or the purchase was not at arms length (as in an inter-family sale, foreclosure or other sale made under conditions of distress), An Appraisal by a New York State Certified Appraiser is the next best type of evidence, which is typically used to prove value of your home throughout the process. To determine if you are over assessed, you can multiply the estimated market value of your property by the residential assessment ratio (RAR-see listings above) that has been establshed for your assessing district. If the result is lower than your property's current assessed value, you may reasonably expect that your assessment be reduced to that amount with proper proof and timely filing in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the New York State Office Of Real Property Services.
KJ water-tank plan sparks hot debate
KJ water-tank plan sparks hot debate
Pedestrian killed
Goshen - No issue requiring agreement between the Orange County Legislature and the Village of Kiryas Joel is simple these days.
That's why the village's seemingly simple request to build a pair of water holding tanks on a defunct Jesuit retreat would spark a half-hour debate and inspire a heated exchange between County Executive Ed Diana and Blooming Grove Supervisor Charlie Bohan yesterday.
Placing the tanks on a hill on the county-owned Gonzaga property would improve the village's water pressure, Diana told the Legislature's physical services committee. He pressed the panel to vote on the measure immediately.
But legislators, who have been sparring with Kiryas Joel since blocking its plans to tap the New York City Aqueduct in 2004, balked. The Gonzaga property is scheduled to become a county park. Legislators had some concern about whether the plan would set any precedent for other county parks.
Things got dicey when Diana said the three neighboring towns, Blooming Grove, Monroe and Woodbury, had been notified about the project. Bohan, who was sitting in the room, angrily denied the claim. Committee Chairman Frank Fornario, R-Blooming Grove, had to call Bohan out of order.
In the end, Fornario denied Diana's requests for a vote until lawmakers could get more information. The issue will return to the committee next month.
Brendan Scott
Pedestrian killed
Goshen - No issue requiring agreement between the Orange County Legislature and the Village of Kiryas Joel is simple these days.
That's why the village's seemingly simple request to build a pair of water holding tanks on a defunct Jesuit retreat would spark a half-hour debate and inspire a heated exchange between County Executive Ed Diana and Blooming Grove Supervisor Charlie Bohan yesterday.
Placing the tanks on a hill on the county-owned Gonzaga property would improve the village's water pressure, Diana told the Legislature's physical services committee. He pressed the panel to vote on the measure immediately.
But legislators, who have been sparring with Kiryas Joel since blocking its plans to tap the New York City Aqueduct in 2004, balked. The Gonzaga property is scheduled to become a county park. Legislators had some concern about whether the plan would set any precedent for other county parks.
Things got dicey when Diana said the three neighboring towns, Blooming Grove, Monroe and Woodbury, had been notified about the project. Bohan, who was sitting in the room, angrily denied the claim. Committee Chairman Frank Fornario, R-Blooming Grove, had to call Bohan out of order.
In the end, Fornario denied Diana's requests for a vote until lawmakers could get more information. The issue will return to the committee next month.
Brendan Scott
Pedestrian killed
Goshen - No issue requiring agreement between the Orange County Legislature and the Village of Kiryas Joel is simple these days.
That's why the village's seemingly simple request to build a pair of water holding tanks on a defunct Jesuit retreat would spark a half-hour debate and inspire a heated exchange between County Executive Ed Diana and Blooming Grove Supervisor Charlie Bohan yesterday.
Placing the tanks on a hill on the county-owned Gonzaga property would improve the village's water pressure, Diana told the Legislature's physical services committee. He pressed the panel to vote on the measure immediately.
But legislators, who have been sparring with Kiryas Joel since blocking its plans to tap the New York City Aqueduct in 2004, balked. The Gonzaga property is scheduled to become a county park. Legislators had some concern about whether the plan would set any precedent for other county parks.
Things got dicey when Diana said the three neighboring towns, Blooming Grove, Monroe and Woodbury, had been notified about the project. Bohan, who was sitting in the room, angrily denied the claim. Committee Chairman Frank Fornario, R-Blooming Grove, had to call Bohan out of order.
In the end, Fornario denied Diana's requests for a vote until lawmakers could get more information. The issue will return to the committee next month.
Brendan Scott
Pedestrian killed
Goshen - No issue requiring agreement between the Orange County Legislature and the Village of Kiryas Joel is simple these days.
That's why the village's seemingly simple request to build a pair of water holding tanks on a defunct Jesuit retreat would spark a half-hour debate and inspire a heated exchange between County Executive Ed Diana and Blooming Grove Supervisor Charlie Bohan yesterday.
Placing the tanks on a hill on the county-owned Gonzaga property would improve the village's water pressure, Diana told the Legislature's physical services committee. He pressed the panel to vote on the measure immediately.
But legislators, who have been sparring with Kiryas Joel since blocking its plans to tap the New York City Aqueduct in 2004, balked. The Gonzaga property is scheduled to become a county park. Legislators had some concern about whether the plan would set any precedent for other county parks.
Things got dicey when Diana said the three neighboring towns, Blooming Grove, Monroe and Woodbury, had been notified about the project. Bohan, who was sitting in the room, angrily denied the claim. Committee Chairman Frank Fornario, R-Blooming Grove, had to call Bohan out of order.
In the end, Fornario denied Diana's requests for a vote until lawmakers could get more information. The issue will return to the committee next month.
Brendan Scott
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
High-speed E-ZPass preview next week
May 16, 2006
High-speed E-ZPass preview next week
Woodbury toll plaza first in line
By Judy Rife
Times Herald-Record
jrife@th-record.com
Central Valley - The public will get a peek next week at the New York State Thruway Authority's plan to introduce highway speed E-ZPass at the Woodbury Toll Plaza.
"We think this will not only solve the problem of congestion at the toll plaza but also improve the mobility of the interchange and the air quality in the area," said Ramesh Mehta, director of the Thruway's New York division.
In harnessing technology already in place on other toll roads, the Thruway is attempting to boost customer service as well. Upwards of 60 percent of the 45,000 vehicles that use the Woodbury Toll Plaza on the average weekday are equipped with E-ZPass.
The $50 million project, the first of its kind on the 541-mile toll road, will be the subject of an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. May 23 at the Central Valley Elementary School. The school is on Route 32 opposite Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.
The open house is a come-and-go affair without formal presentations. Thruway staff will be available to discuss project diagrams and renderings on an individual basis.
Similar projects will be rolled out at Yonkers and other Thruway toll plazas over the next five years. The changes, to higher speed and highway speed E-ZPass, are part of the capital plan adopted in conjunction with last year's toll hike.
"If it will move traffic through the area quicker, I'm for it,'' said Woodbury Town Supervisor John Burke. "The pollution here, in the summer, on Fridays, on Sundays, is horrible."
David Church, Orange County's planning commissioner, said the county is "fully supportive" of the project and expects it to complement the work of the Southeastern Orange County Task Force in redesigning the intersections of Routes 32, 6 and 17 with the Thruway at the Harriman Toll Plaza.
Mehta said the project will be done in two phases and completed in 2009. The first phase will modify the entrance and exit ramps at Woodbury and Harriman where traffic now routinely backs up for miles on Friday and Sunday nights.
The modifications are designed to ease that congestion and to eliminate potential conflict between entering and exiting vehicles and through traffic, which will no longer have to slow at the toll booths.
The second phase will be the installation of the overhead equipment that will capture E-ZPass signals at
High-speed E-ZPass preview next week
Woodbury toll plaza first in line
By Judy Rife
Times Herald-Record
jrife@th-record.com
Central Valley - The public will get a peek next week at the New York State Thruway Authority's plan to introduce highway speed E-ZPass at the Woodbury Toll Plaza.
"We think this will not only solve the problem of congestion at the toll plaza but also improve the mobility of the interchange and the air quality in the area," said Ramesh Mehta, director of the Thruway's New York division.
In harnessing technology already in place on other toll roads, the Thruway is attempting to boost customer service as well. Upwards of 60 percent of the 45,000 vehicles that use the Woodbury Toll Plaza on the average weekday are equipped with E-ZPass.
The $50 million project, the first of its kind on the 541-mile toll road, will be the subject of an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. May 23 at the Central Valley Elementary School. The school is on Route 32 opposite Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.
The open house is a come-and-go affair without formal presentations. Thruway staff will be available to discuss project diagrams and renderings on an individual basis.
Similar projects will be rolled out at Yonkers and other Thruway toll plazas over the next five years. The changes, to higher speed and highway speed E-ZPass, are part of the capital plan adopted in conjunction with last year's toll hike.
"If it will move traffic through the area quicker, I'm for it,'' said Woodbury Town Supervisor John Burke. "The pollution here, in the summer, on Fridays, on Sundays, is horrible."
David Church, Orange County's planning commissioner, said the county is "fully supportive" of the project and expects it to complement the work of the Southeastern Orange County Task Force in redesigning the intersections of Routes 32, 6 and 17 with the Thruway at the Harriman Toll Plaza.
Mehta said the project will be done in two phases and completed in 2009. The first phase will modify the entrance and exit ramps at Woodbury and Harriman where traffic now routinely backs up for miles on Friday and Sunday nights.
The modifications are designed to ease that congestion and to eliminate potential conflict between entering and exiting vehicles and through traffic, which will no longer have to slow at the toll booths.
The second phase will be the installation of the overhead equipment that will capture E-ZPass signals at
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Irate residents assess options
May 13, 2006
Irate residents assess options
Home value jump means tax hike
By Chris McKenna
Times Herald-Record
cmckenna@th-record.com
Woodbury - Leslie Bryant stood at the tax assessor's office door, gripping the same official notice that landed with a thud in hundreds of Woodbury mailboxes this week.
Like everyone else in her townhouse complex, she wanted to know: How on earth did her property assessment go up so much?
Roland Tiffany, who may well be the least popular man in town this week, explained to Bryant what he's been telling one angry homeowner after another for the last few days: Assessments at the 453-unit Timber Ridge development were too low, so he brought them in line with other home values in town.
"They're very low," Tiffany told her. "They're undervalued. It's the assessor's job to keep everything current."
In the case of Timber Ridge, that meant raising assessments by as much as 60 percent, portending a big hit in September when residents get their next school tax bills. Residents there are furious. Bryant and others say they might move because they can't afford the increase.
Even selling their homes might be a problem, though, because the higher tax bills might scare off potential buyers, says Karen Peters, an elementary school teacher whose assessment went up to $127,600, from $94,100.
"It's going to do two things," she said. "It's going to prevent us from selling, and it's going to prevent us from living."
Since Timber Ridge is a bastion of affordability in an increasingly expensive region, residents like Peters say they are among the least able to shoulder a large tax increase. Many are retirees, widows, single parents and young people in their first homes.
But the increased desirability of townhouses in a booming housing market has boosted their sale prices, which is what Tiffany used to calculate the new assessments. He argues that Timber Ridge taxes have been disproportionately low, at a time when the owners of Woodbury's million-dollar homes are paying as much as $33,000 a year.
All told, 779 Woodbury properties, including Timber Ridge and the Brookside townhouse complex in Harriman, had their assessments adjusted this year, mostly upward, Tiffany said. He said he brought them to 40 percent of their July 2005 market value, where all assessed values in Woodbury should be.
Many owners are likely to descend on Town Hall May 23 to challenge their assessments before a local review board. They must prove that their new value is unjustifiably high to get a break. Anyone unhappy with the results can appeal to an Orange County hearing officer.
Some in Timber Ridge who have listened to Tiffany say they still think the focus on their complex was unfair.
"I live in a 1,400-square-foot home on a concrete slab; this isn't the lap of luxury here," said Mariann Stepp, a first-grade teacher whose assessment in Timber Ridge went up by 55 percent.
"My taxes will probably rise to just over $7,000 for a townhouse. I'm retiring in June, and it's a quite a big addition to my budget that I hadn't anticipated."
Irate residents assess options
Home value jump means tax hike
By Chris McKenna
Times Herald-Record
cmckenna@th-record.com
Woodbury - Leslie Bryant stood at the tax assessor's office door, gripping the same official notice that landed with a thud in hundreds of Woodbury mailboxes this week.
Like everyone else in her townhouse complex, she wanted to know: How on earth did her property assessment go up so much?
Roland Tiffany, who may well be the least popular man in town this week, explained to Bryant what he's been telling one angry homeowner after another for the last few days: Assessments at the 453-unit Timber Ridge development were too low, so he brought them in line with other home values in town.
"They're very low," Tiffany told her. "They're undervalued. It's the assessor's job to keep everything current."
In the case of Timber Ridge, that meant raising assessments by as much as 60 percent, portending a big hit in September when residents get their next school tax bills. Residents there are furious. Bryant and others say they might move because they can't afford the increase.
Even selling their homes might be a problem, though, because the higher tax bills might scare off potential buyers, says Karen Peters, an elementary school teacher whose assessment went up to $127,600, from $94,100.
"It's going to do two things," she said. "It's going to prevent us from selling, and it's going to prevent us from living."
Since Timber Ridge is a bastion of affordability in an increasingly expensive region, residents like Peters say they are among the least able to shoulder a large tax increase. Many are retirees, widows, single parents and young people in their first homes.
But the increased desirability of townhouses in a booming housing market has boosted their sale prices, which is what Tiffany used to calculate the new assessments. He argues that Timber Ridge taxes have been disproportionately low, at a time when the owners of Woodbury's million-dollar homes are paying as much as $33,000 a year.
All told, 779 Woodbury properties, including Timber Ridge and the Brookside townhouse complex in Harriman, had their assessments adjusted this year, mostly upward, Tiffany said. He said he brought them to 40 percent of their July 2005 market value, where all assessed values in Woodbury should be.
Many owners are likely to descend on Town Hall May 23 to challenge their assessments before a local review board. They must prove that their new value is unjustifiably high to get a break. Anyone unhappy with the results can appeal to an Orange County hearing officer.
Some in Timber Ridge who have listened to Tiffany say they still think the focus on their complex was unfair.
"I live in a 1,400-square-foot home on a concrete slab; this isn't the lap of luxury here," said Mariann Stepp, a first-grade teacher whose assessment in Timber Ridge went up by 55 percent.
"My taxes will probably rise to just over $7,000 for a townhouse. I'm retiring in June, and it's a quite a big addition to my budget that I hadn't anticipated."
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Cornwall Politics:
http://cornball-local.com/
Cornwall Politics:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's official (sorta), Randazzo will challenge Calhoun in November
May 9 - Sources close to the administration of Cornwall Supervisor Dick Randazzo (D), have confirmed Dick will announce his candidacy for the New York State Assembly's 94th District.
Dick will run against Nancy Calhoun (R), who has held the seat since 1991.
It is expected Dick will make his candidacy official within the next two weeks.
In other news . . .
Even if Dick loses to Nancy in November, he may still come out a winner.
Sources tell us New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer (D), who is running for governor, may very well consider Dick as his new Insurance Commissioner if Spitzer wins in November.
Dick has extensive experience in the insurance industry and the learning curve for this position would be minimal.
If Dick resigns as Supervisor it would then be up to the Town Board to appoint his replacement.
The appointee need not come from within the Town Board and it is possible that an outsider could be brought-in to complete Dick's term until a new Supervisor is elected in November 2007.
This document maintained by Webmaster@Cornball-Local.Com
Copyright © 2006 The Canterbury Tales. All rights reserved.
Cornwall Politics:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's official (sorta), Randazzo will challenge Calhoun in November
May 9 - Sources close to the administration of Cornwall Supervisor Dick Randazzo (D), have confirmed Dick will announce his candidacy for the New York State Assembly's 94th District.
Dick will run against Nancy Calhoun (R), who has held the seat since 1991.
It is expected Dick will make his candidacy official within the next two weeks.
In other news . . .
Even if Dick loses to Nancy in November, he may still come out a winner.
Sources tell us New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer (D), who is running for governor, may very well consider Dick as his new Insurance Commissioner if Spitzer wins in November.
Dick has extensive experience in the insurance industry and the learning curve for this position would be minimal.
If Dick resigns as Supervisor it would then be up to the Town Board to appoint his replacement.
The appointee need not come from within the Town Board and it is possible that an outsider could be brought-in to complete Dick's term until a new Supervisor is elected in November 2007.
This document maintained by Webmaster@Cornball-Local.Com
Copyright © 2006 The Canterbury Tales. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Giuliani still pondering White House run
Giuliani still pondering White House run Mon May 1, 5:15 PM ET
Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, visiting the state that traditionally kicks off the White House race, said on Monday he was still considering a 2008 presidential run but was in no rush to decide.
Giuliani, in Iowa to raise money for Republicans and to make a paid appearance at a motivational seminar, said he was gathering information on a possible presidential bid.
"It's something that I'm thinking about," Giuliani said. "It's something I haven't ruled out and it's something that really depends on where things are approximately a year from now."
Public opinion polls consistently show Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) near the top of a crowded field of possible Republican candidates to succeed President George W. Bush in 2008.
Giuliani gained national acclaim for his leadership in New York after the September 11 attacks, but his support of gay rights and abortion rights could spark opposition from conservatives who hold considerable influence in the Republican caucuses and primaries.
Iowa, which holds the nominating caucuses that kick off the presidential race, is a favorite stopping point for potential White House candidates testing their support and message ahead of a decision on whether to run.
Giuliani said the only way to find out if he could earn conservative support for a White House bid was to run.
"No one ever knows who or what the electorate wants until you offer yourself as a candidate," he said.
"We've had lots of surprises either way. We've had people elected where you never thought they'd get elected. We've had frontrunners who have fallen way behind. But the only way you find out is if you run."
Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, visiting the state that traditionally kicks off the White House race, said on Monday he was still considering a 2008 presidential run but was in no rush to decide.
Giuliani, in Iowa to raise money for Republicans and to make a paid appearance at a motivational seminar, said he was gathering information on a possible presidential bid.
"It's something that I'm thinking about," Giuliani said. "It's something I haven't ruled out and it's something that really depends on where things are approximately a year from now."
Public opinion polls consistently show Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) near the top of a crowded field of possible Republican candidates to succeed President George W. Bush in 2008.
Giuliani gained national acclaim for his leadership in New York after the September 11 attacks, but his support of gay rights and abortion rights could spark opposition from conservatives who hold considerable influence in the Republican caucuses and primaries.
Iowa, which holds the nominating caucuses that kick off the presidential race, is a favorite stopping point for potential White House candidates testing their support and message ahead of a decision on whether to run.
Giuliani said the only way to find out if he could earn conservative support for a White House bid was to run.
"No one ever knows who or what the electorate wants until you offer yourself as a candidate," he said.
"We've had lots of surprises either way. We've had people elected where you never thought they'd get elected. We've had frontrunners who have fallen way behind. But the only way you find out is if you run."
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Location, location:
Location, location: Developers snatch up trailer parks By Charisse Jones, USA TODAY
Wed Apr 12, 7:12 AM ET
Mobile home parks around the USA are being scooped up by developers, depleting affordable housing in many booming real estate markets and spurring states and counties to help residents being evicted.
From Las Vegas to the Tampa Bay area, the scarcity and rising price of land have made mobile home parks a hot commodity. Developers are replacing the trailer parks with condominiums, town houses, strip malls and big-box stores.
"It's the old axiom: location, location, location," says Bruce Savage, spokesman for the Manufactured Housing Institute, the Arlington, Va.-based trade association for mobile home manufacturers and park owners. "Suburban sprawl has now surrounded these communities. Suddenly you have a 10- to 15-acre property in a suburban area, and it becomes an attractive target ... for commercial and residential developers."
STORY: Paradise found, but will it be lost to condos?
About 22 million Americans live in mobile homes. Most don't own the land their homes sit on. And despite their name, many mobile homes are not movable because they have porches, are in poor condition or can't meet the standards of newer parks.
In expensive real estate markets, trailers often are the only way for working-class families or seniors on fixed incomes to afford a home.
Many states require park residents be given the first chance to buy the property if the owner wants to sell. But the park closures leave many residents with few places to go.
"I don't know where these people are going to go live," says Leo Plenski, president of the homeowners association for the Bay Pines Mobile Home Park in Pinellas County, Fla. Even if some residents get paid for their trailers, he says, "they're going to be sitting under a bridge with $18,000."
Wed Apr 12, 7:12 AM ET
Mobile home parks around the USA are being scooped up by developers, depleting affordable housing in many booming real estate markets and spurring states and counties to help residents being evicted.
From Las Vegas to the Tampa Bay area, the scarcity and rising price of land have made mobile home parks a hot commodity. Developers are replacing the trailer parks with condominiums, town houses, strip malls and big-box stores.
"It's the old axiom: location, location, location," says Bruce Savage, spokesman for the Manufactured Housing Institute, the Arlington, Va.-based trade association for mobile home manufacturers and park owners. "Suburban sprawl has now surrounded these communities. Suddenly you have a 10- to 15-acre property in a suburban area, and it becomes an attractive target ... for commercial and residential developers."
STORY: Paradise found, but will it be lost to condos?
About 22 million Americans live in mobile homes. Most don't own the land their homes sit on. And despite their name, many mobile homes are not movable because they have porches, are in poor condition or can't meet the standards of newer parks.
In expensive real estate markets, trailers often are the only way for working-class families or seniors on fixed incomes to afford a home.
Many states require park residents be given the first chance to buy the property if the owner wants to sell. But the park closures leave many residents with few places to go.
"I don't know where these people are going to go live," says Leo Plenski, president of the homeowners association for the Bay Pines Mobile Home Park in Pinellas County, Fla. Even if some residents get paid for their trailers, he says, "they're going to be sitting under a bridge with $18,000."
Monday, March 20, 2006
New Survey!
The increase in the average estimated school tax rate, based on the proposed budget, would be 5.96 percent to the homeowner. Please answer a few questions on how this will effect you?
http://mikeaforwoodbury.com/questions/survey.php?s_id=8
M-W superintendent proposes $126.5 million school budget
M-W superintendent proposes $126.5 million school budget
Spending would increase 7.17 percent, By Michelle Rugnetta
Central Valley - Monroe-Woodbury School Superintendent Joseph DiLorenzo’s first budget proposal for the district totals $126.5 million, which would increase spending over the current austerity budget by 7.1 percent.
DiLorenzo, who joined the district at the end of last year, said that less than one percent of the total proposed budget can be tied to “discretionary” purchases, such as the creation of several new teachers’ aide positions in the district and the re-paving of the North Main Street School parking lot and playground, an improvement that has been postponed since the 2004-05 school year.
The remainder of the 7.1 percent increase is tied to budget items such as increasing fuel costs, contractual obligations to staff, insurance and student services, such as special education support, provided by BOCES.
“I believe (that) this budget is the appropriate budget,” DiLorenzo said during his presentation to the School Board Wednesday night. “It maintains staff and services at current levels, while providing a safe environment for our children (as well as) exemplary programs. We gave a good hard look at it and came up with something appropriate for the community.
“I don’t know if we could have been more conservative than that,” he added.
Approximately 71 percent of the total proposed budget will fall on the shoulders of those who pay school taxes in the district. The remainder will be covered by state aid.
The increase in the average estimated school tax rate, based on the proposed budget, would be 5.96 percent to the homeowner. “But,” DiLorenzo noted, “that can be increased or decreased (by others associated with the final tax bill.).”
The budget will be submitted to voters on May 16. If the proposed budget does not pass the vote, a contingency budget in the amount of $124.5 million will be adopted, which will force a $2 million decrease to the proposed budget.
“Two million dollars is a lot of money to get to in terms of cuts,” DiLorenzo said.
Those decreases would be absorbed by capital or building and grounds expense reductions, administrative cutbacks, and program cancellations, such as extra-curricular activities.
“The additional $2 million for the proposed budget, for a homeowner who pays $8,000 in school taxes represents a total of $160 per year, or about $3 a week,” the superintendent said.
The transportation budget shows the highest potential line item increase, aimed to replace old buses with newer models that are in line with NYS school transportation regulations.
“Older buses require expensive repairs and this become cost-prohibitive over time,” DiLorenzo said. The increase, which would total $1.7 million, will be submitted for a public vote as a separate proposition on the ballot.
Two public forum sessions, where the public is formally invited to review all recommendations and make comments directly to the school board, were planned twice during this budget review process. There were no comments from the public at the forum on March 7.
An additional public forum has been planned for May 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Central School District offices on Route 32.
Spending would increase 7.17 percent, By Michelle Rugnetta
Central Valley - Monroe-Woodbury School Superintendent Joseph DiLorenzo’s first budget proposal for the district totals $126.5 million, which would increase spending over the current austerity budget by 7.1 percent.
DiLorenzo, who joined the district at the end of last year, said that less than one percent of the total proposed budget can be tied to “discretionary” purchases, such as the creation of several new teachers’ aide positions in the district and the re-paving of the North Main Street School parking lot and playground, an improvement that has been postponed since the 2004-05 school year.
The remainder of the 7.1 percent increase is tied to budget items such as increasing fuel costs, contractual obligations to staff, insurance and student services, such as special education support, provided by BOCES.
“I believe (that) this budget is the appropriate budget,” DiLorenzo said during his presentation to the School Board Wednesday night. “It maintains staff and services at current levels, while providing a safe environment for our children (as well as) exemplary programs. We gave a good hard look at it and came up with something appropriate for the community.
“I don’t know if we could have been more conservative than that,” he added.
Approximately 71 percent of the total proposed budget will fall on the shoulders of those who pay school taxes in the district. The remainder will be covered by state aid.
The increase in the average estimated school tax rate, based on the proposed budget, would be 5.96 percent to the homeowner. “But,” DiLorenzo noted, “that can be increased or decreased (by others associated with the final tax bill.).”
The budget will be submitted to voters on May 16. If the proposed budget does not pass the vote, a contingency budget in the amount of $124.5 million will be adopted, which will force a $2 million decrease to the proposed budget.
“Two million dollars is a lot of money to get to in terms of cuts,” DiLorenzo said.
Those decreases would be absorbed by capital or building and grounds expense reductions, administrative cutbacks, and program cancellations, such as extra-curricular activities.
“The additional $2 million for the proposed budget, for a homeowner who pays $8,000 in school taxes represents a total of $160 per year, or about $3 a week,” the superintendent said.
The transportation budget shows the highest potential line item increase, aimed to replace old buses with newer models that are in line with NYS school transportation regulations.
“Older buses require expensive repairs and this become cost-prohibitive over time,” DiLorenzo said. The increase, which would total $1.7 million, will be submitted for a public vote as a separate proposition on the ballot.
Two public forum sessions, where the public is formally invited to review all recommendations and make comments directly to the school board, were planned twice during this budget review process. There were no comments from the public at the forum on March 7.
An additional public forum has been planned for May 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Central School District offices on Route 32.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Cornwall's Toxic Dump Sites
Cornwall's Toxic Dump Sites -- Or where not to purchase investment property in town
With the price of real estate in Cornwall skyrocketing over the past three years, we can assure you that there is property around town that you definitely want to avoid.
Toxics Targeting Inc. has placed on the Internet a detailed toxic site map of Cornwall which shows the areas that you will not want to use for your next family reunion or soccer match.
The site map was last updated on May 29, 2003.
One of the nastiest toxic dump site in Cornwall is the old Star Expansion complex on Industry Drive located off Route 32 in Mountainville. This site map is available online and can be downloaded as a PDF file by clicking here.
The site is under constant monitoring by the Environmental Protection Agency and may be returned to the national SuperFund list.
With the site contaminated with solvents and heavy metals, homes that are located nearby and north of the location should have their well water monitored on a regular basis.
Star Expansion was formerly owned by Peter Stern, the owner of nearby Storm King Art Center.
Our understanding is that Mr. Stern sold the property in or about 1997 to Pennsylvania investors who later abandoned the property when they learned the true extent of the site's contamination and the costs that would be incurred for cleaning-up the mess.
Currently the site is used as warehouse space for a chain of dollar stores. Further development of the location is pending.
With the price of real estate in Cornwall skyrocketing over the past three years, we can assure you that there is property around town that you definitely want to avoid.
Toxics Targeting Inc. has placed on the Internet a detailed toxic site map of Cornwall which shows the areas that you will not want to use for your next family reunion or soccer match.
The site map was last updated on May 29, 2003.
One of the nastiest toxic dump site in Cornwall is the old Star Expansion complex on Industry Drive located off Route 32 in Mountainville. This site map is available online and can be downloaded as a PDF file by clicking here.
The site is under constant monitoring by the Environmental Protection Agency and may be returned to the national SuperFund list.
With the site contaminated with solvents and heavy metals, homes that are located nearby and north of the location should have their well water monitored on a regular basis.
Star Expansion was formerly owned by Peter Stern, the owner of nearby Storm King Art Center.
Our understanding is that Mr. Stern sold the property in or about 1997 to Pennsylvania investors who later abandoned the property when they learned the true extent of the site's contamination and the costs that would be incurred for cleaning-up the mess.
Currently the site is used as warehouse space for a chain of dollar stores. Further development of the location is pending.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Woodbury, Tuxedo approve small tax breaks for volunteers
Woodbury, Tuxedo approve small tax breaks for volunteers
Volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers in the towns of Woodbury and Tuxedo may now file annually to have a portion of the assessed value of their primary residence exempt from town property taxes.
Due to a limitation in each of the towns’ new laws, imposed by the enabling legislation of the state and county, the benefit they will receive will be small. The volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers, if they file for the benefit, would be better off by about $5 or $10 per year.
Some local assessors refer to this latest course served up by Albany as “The Happy Meal” in that its value is equivalent to one Happy Meal per year from a McDonald’s restaurant.
The actions by the Woodbury and Tuxedo town boards are two of the latest notes in New York State’s governmental music. Officials said the tax break, however small, was in recognition of what volunteers contribute to their communities, particularly in the emergency services.
Volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers in the towns of Woodbury and Tuxedo may now file annually to have a portion of the assessed value of their primary residence exempt from town property taxes.
Due to a limitation in each of the towns’ new laws, imposed by the enabling legislation of the state and county, the benefit they will receive will be small. The volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers, if they file for the benefit, would be better off by about $5 or $10 per year.
Some local assessors refer to this latest course served up by Albany as “The Happy Meal” in that its value is equivalent to one Happy Meal per year from a McDonald’s restaurant.
The actions by the Woodbury and Tuxedo town boards are two of the latest notes in New York State’s governmental music. Officials said the tax break, however small, was in recognition of what volunteers contribute to their communities, particularly in the emergency services.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)