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Health & Fitness

BRIARCLIFF BUSTING TAX CAP

Village of Briarcliff Manor plans to violate tax cap legislation for 2014-15.

Many Village residents here in Briarcliff recall the hysteria and outrage at this time last year when the Briarcliff School District presented a budget that busted the tax cap.  We had record turnout at the polls.  Neighbor was pitted against neighbor.  There were endless emails and meetings.  Hundreds of lawn signs littered the Village. A well regarded Board President lost a bid for reelection.  The school budget was voted down.  A new budget, tax cap compliant, was presented, voted upon and passed.

So, here we are just one year later.  The school budget coming up in a few weeks for a vote IS tax cap compliant.  But, the Village budget is NOT.

The Mayor and Village Trustees are proposing a budget for 2014-15 that busts the tax cap.  Why have we heard nothing about this?  Where is the outrage?  Where is the volume of emails?  Where are the lawn signs?

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In summary, the proposed budget (not yet adopted) is a year over year 5.13% increase.  That exceeds the tax cap of 2%.  The proposed budget calls for increases virtually across the board.  Exceptions include decreases in spending on Police and Recreation.  Hmmm….

The bottom line, after applying the ever-mysterious equalization rate, is a tax increase for Town of Ossining residents of 5.976% and a tax increase for Town of Mount Pleasant residents of 4.496%

Find out what's happening in Pleasantville-Briarcliff Manorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For those who enjoy a bit more detail, here is a direct link to the PowerPoint presentation from the April 9th Village Board of Trustees meeting on the budget.

http://www.briarcliffmanor.org/Pages/BriarcliffManorNY_Taxes/Budget/FY%2014-15/Tentative%20Budget%20Presentation.pdf

Thoughts, ladies and gentlemen??

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