Town Begins '05 Budget with Tentative Increase of 7.3%

Also: Town Will Add 4 Stop Signs

by Harriet Kline

(October 20, 2004) In this season of multiple wars, national elections, baseball, football and holiday shopping – add another item to your list of things requiring attention – the annual Town budget process. The Town of Mamaroneck’s fiscal year ends in December and the Town Board is very aware of its responsibility to deliver a budget as required by law.

On Wednesday night, October 20, Town Administrator Steve Altieri presented the board with a tentative budget of $25.4 million, which represents the Town staff’s estimates for operating costs in the coming year. That’s $1.3 million more than last year's adopted budget, which translates into a 5.8% increase.

This year the budgetary process was informed by the results of a resident survey conducted over the summer – a survey that concluded that the Town should “continue all current services,” reported Mr. Altieri.

Yes, taxes will go up: the tentative figures call for a 7.3% increase for all residents in the unincorporated part of the Town, which boils down to approximately $298 in taxes for the average assessment of $20,000. This is below last year’s tentative estimate (a 9.3% tax increase) and below the increase ultimately adopted in December, 2003 (of 8.5%)

The residents of the Village of Larchmont and the Village of Mamaroneck may expect a rise from $14.50 to $15.95 per one thousand dollars of assessed valuation. So, for a property with an average assessment of $20,000, village residents would pay $319 in 2005, an increase from last year of $29 overall.

Mr. Altieri cited two factors contributing to the increase: pension contributions and the increase in cost for energy – fuel and electricity – that add directly to the increased cost for goods and services. On the revenue side, non-property tax revenues continue to show sluggish performance.

Mr Altieri’s budget documents noted that the Town continues to be plagued by “indefensible assessments, especially for commercial properties.” That requires the Town to lower commercial property assessments and adds to the burden of other tax payers. "Almost 1% of the tax increase is attributable to the reduction in tax assessement,“ said Mr. Altierei.

The tentative figures, of course, may change over the next two months as the board conducts several meetings and working sessions to review the budget. Below is the schedule for public participation.

October 26 at 6 pm public work session in Conference Room A in the Town Center
November 5 at 9 am is an all day public work session at the Weaver Street Fire House
November 10 at 1 pm work session on the capital budget in Conference Room A
November 16 at 9 am public work session in Conference Room A in the Town Center
December 1 at 8:15 pm Preliminary Budget is presented at a public hearing
December 15 at 8:15 pm anticipated adoption of the 2005 budget

4 New Stop Signs

The Town Board voted unanimously to install 4 new stop signs in the Rochelle Road, Huguenot and Mountain Road area. These stop signs have been under discussion for some time by residents and the Traffic Committee. Several residents attended Wednesday’s meeting – all supported the installation of the signs.

Janet Segal, a 40 year resident of the area who has been working with the Town Board and the Traffic Committee on this issue, said she was grateful to the board for its action. She said, “the street has become a raceway” for speeding drivers using Huguenot Drive as a cut through to North Chatsworth Avenue.

The next regularly scheduled Town Board meetings are: Thursday, November 4 and Wednesday, November 17.