A Message to the Community Regarding the Supervisor’s
Adopted 2012 Budget

Catherine Borgia, Town Supervisor - October 28, 2011

For the second year in a row, the Supervisor’s 2012 Budget shows tax cuts for all taxpayers in the Town of Ossining, including residents in the Villages of Ossining and Briarcliff.  We have heard the needs of our taxpayers and this budget reflects those concerns. These rate decreases are well below the recently-imposed New York State Tax Cap of a 2% tax levy increase. Everyone knows that these are challenging economic times for both taxpayers and municipalities. In municipalities we face the same challenges you face in your household budgets: decreasing resources and increasing costs for necessities, including, in the town’s case, mandatory contributions to the NYS Retirement System, increased cost of health insurance, and the increased cost of fuel.  In the Town of Ossining, these challenges have made us redouble our commitment to providing government in the most efficient and effective way possible.

This budget has tax decreases in both the Town General budget (-0.07%) and the Town Unincorporated budget (-0.02%).  All residents of the Town of Ossining, including those in the Villages of Ossining and Briarcliff, pay the Town General tax.  Residents in the Unincorporated area (the “town-outside” of both villages) pay the Town Unincorporated tax.  These tax decreases have been achieved through careful fiscal control by the Town managers, innovative practices to craft government services, and cost-cutting measures taken by every Town employee.

For a second year, the Supervisor’s Budget includes a significant new government efficiency designed to save taxpayer money: the consolidation of the Ossining Village Court into the Town Justice Court.  This court consolidation has been lauded by the NYS Office of Court Administration and has been championed by Judge Alan Scheinkman as a model for other municipalities.  Village of Ossining taxpayers will see a savings in their village tax bills as a result of this consolidation, and if the Village of Briarcliff decides to join the consolidated court, Village of Briarcliff taxpayers will also see a savings. Although the NYS Tax Cap legislation allows a tax levy increase above 2% for consolidation efforts where one municipality (in this case the Town) takes over the functions previously performed by another municipality (the Village of Ossining), the Town of Ossining has been able to find budget savings in other areas to accommodate the increased costs of the new consolidated court, estimated by the NYS Comptroller’s office to be $460,571.  I am happy to report that residents of the Unincorporated Area of Ossining will once again see a tax decrease despite the increased cost associated with court consolidation.  Once the consolidated court is up and running, the future administrative costs will steadily fall through efficiencies and attrition, regardless of whether or not Briarcliff or any other municipality joins the consolidated court, further reducing the tax burden for everyone.

I am particularly proud of the efforts to explore further consolidation and shared services arrangements with the Village of Ossining. We all know that the most effective way of reducing government cost is through further sharing between municipalities. I am confident that the process we have put into place will bring about even further government efficiencies and future taxpayer savings.

The financial success of Historic Dale Cemetery in 2011 is another element that has a positive impact on the 2012 Town General budget.  Continued marketing of bulk plot sales has lead to two lucrative contracts which have allowed Dale Cemetery revenues to exceed expenses for the first time since the Town of Ossining was required to take over the cemetery.  A total of $152,752 of revenues from Dale Cemetery operations in 2011 will be restored to all town taxpayers as part of the 2012 Town Budget.  This is a first step towards Dale Cemetery restoring taxpayer monies that had been used for operations from 2006-2009. This repayment process is a year ahead of the schedule planned in 2010 by the Town Board and George Weeks, the manager of Dale Cemetery.

Despite our financial accomplishments this year, this continues to be a very challenging time for municipal governments.  We face some of the same issues that our residents are experiencing from the economic downturn.  In Westchester County, towns are responsible for collecting school and county taxes, and making the school districts and County “whole.” Regardless of whether taxpayers have paid their school or county taxes, the Town of Ossining pays the entire amount owed by our taxpayers to the Ossining and Briarcliff school districts, and to Westchester County.  The Town then becomes the priority lien holder on the property, and ultimately receives the amount owed plus late fees.

Other economic challenges faced by the Town include a town-wide -1.33% decrease of Taxable Assessed Values as a result of tax certiorari and small claims (household) assessment reductions.  Like every municipality in Westchester County, we have seen a sharp increase in tax certiorari filings and individual property owner tax grievances, which further impact the Town of Ossining Assessment Roll.  Our state-mandated contribution to the New York State Employees Retirement System increased by 21.98% this year.  The cost of health insurance, provided by the Empire Plan, increased 6%.  The tax reductions in the Adopted budget were achieved despite the reduced assessment roll and increased retirement and health costs.

Despite all of these economic challenges, I am delighted to be able to offer a budget on behalf of the Town of Ossining that shows a tax decrease for all taxpayers in the Town of Ossining.  This is due to the hard work and careful resource management of every Town of Ossining employee.  As taxpayers and neighbors, we are fortunate to have such a dedicated group of public servants working for our benefit.

The Supervisor’s 2012 Budget is available in the Town Clerk’s office at 16 Croton Avenue, the Ossining Public Library, and online below.

2012 Budget Highlights

• Tax cuts for all Town of Ossining taxpayers; well below amount allowed by NYS Comptroller to comply with 2% Tax Cap legislation
• Town/Village Court consolidation costs estimated by NYS Comptroller to be $460,571; however, no tax increase will result from court consolidation due to budget cuts and additional offset revenue
• Continued contingency accounts in Town General (10 fund), Unincorporated Area Fund (20 Fund) and Highway Fund (31 Fund)
• Dale Cemetery returns $152,752 to General Fund Balance in 2011 and an additional $79,558 from contracted revenue into 2012 Fund Balance. *Revenue from a third potential contract in 2012 is not included in this figure.
• No Fund Balance used in any lines except revenue returning from Dale Cemetery.
• Continued Six (6) Year Capital Plan for all departments including proposed methods of financing.
• Taxable Assessed Value decreased -2.13% in Town Outside and -1.33% in Town General.
• New York State Employees’ Retirement System: 21.98% increase.
• Health insurance (Empire Plan): 6% increase

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