Town Taxes:
Preliminary Budget Shows 9.3% Rise

by Harriet Kline

(October 16, 2003) Shortly after the Red Sox defeated the Yankees in the sixth game of the American League pennant race on Wednesday, October 15, the Mamaroneck Town Board began dealing with its own nemesis – the 2004 Town Budget.

Town Administrator Steven Altieri presented the Town Board with the tentative budget based primarily on departmental budgets and recommendations made by the Town staff. This budget will now undergo rigorous scrutiny by the Town Board and the public.

According to Mr. Altieri, the 7.3 % increase in expenses (over the 2003 budget) is driven primarily by four factors: state mandated pension contributions, health care, liability insurance, and workers compensation costs. This would result in a potential tax increase of 9.3%, if all current resident services are to be continued. There was a mention of possible cost cutting in sanitation service.

It is typical for Boards to end up with smaller budgets than first projected, due to cost cutting or other means. However, the 9.3% estimate for 2004 is signficantly higher than last year's 6.2% projection in October. (See: 2003 Budget Process) Last year, the Town was plagued with similar increases in pension, benefits and insurance costs, all items mostly outside of local control.

According to the Town web site the budget review process includes the following scheduled events open to the public:

• Wednesday October 22 at 6 pm - Public Work Session at Town Center
  
  
• Friday October 31 at 9 am – Public Work Session at Weaver St. Fire House
  
  
• Wednesday November 12 at 6 pm – Public Work Session at Town Center
  
  
• Wednesday December 3 at 8:15 pm - Public Hearing at the Town Center
  
  
• Wednesday December 17 at 8:15 pm – Adoption of the Budget at Town Center

Upcoming Public Hearings

November 5 – legislation to give Town clear authority to deal with outstanding property violations, including repeated violators of the burglar alarm code

November 5 – proposal to extend the Boston Post Road development moratorium for an additional 3 month i.e. till March 31, 2004. According to Town Council Bill Maker, the Board is very close to a final draft of the proposed ordinance.

November 5 – final review of proposed zoning ordinance regarding alternate
Members of the Planning and Zoning Boards.

November 19 – proposed legislation regulating hours for rock removal.

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