Irvington Budget Would Increase Tax Levy By 1.6 Percent

 

IRVINGTON, N.Y. – Increases in personnel costs and tax assessment challenges contribute to a tentative $15.5 million budget for the village of Irvington.

 

Village Administrator Lawrence Schopfer noted the village expresses the budget "in terms of the size of the general fund budget, since that's what drives the property tax rate."

 

The proposed budget features a 1.6 percent increase in the tax levy and a 4.77 percent increase in the tax rate, which falls under the property tax cap by $50,000. A public hearing on the budget will be held at 7 p.m. on April 2 at village hall.

 

“The focus and challenge of the village board has been to present a budget in compliance with recent New York State legislation capping the village tax levy at 2 percent, or the rate of inflation, whichever is less,” Mayor Brian Smith said in a letter accompanying the budget.

 

Approximately 2.9 percent was cut from the budget by the board and village departments, Smith said, although the village saw revenue increases totaling $140,000.

 

Schopfer noted numerous cuts were made across the board, but in general departments were held to cuts of roughly 3 percent.

 

Smith noted that expenditures were up 1.9 percent and non-tax revenues were up 2.31 percent. Smith said costs relating to the New York State Retirement contribution, workers' compensation costs and increases to in the police budget to meet contractual obligations contributed to the tax increase.

 

Tax assessment challenges also played a role in the proposed budget.

 

“Despite these cuts, the tax rate for village residents continues to climb as a result of declining taxable assessed values,” Smith said. “The decrease in assessed values from last year is $1,098,702 or 2.35 percent. Of the current 4.77 percent tax increase, 2.41 percent is the direct result of lower assessments.”

 

Smith noted that health insurance costs and debt service costs remained “relatively flat and provided a breather for village finances.” There is no increase in water or sewer rates within the proposed budget.

 

Comments on the proposed budget can be sent by letter to Village Administrator Lawrence Schopfer at 85 Main St. or lschopfer@irvingtonny.gov.

 

 

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