November 2021 Newsletter – Hartsdale Neighbors Association

Hello Hartsdale Community, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. We hope you and your family are able to join together to celebrate and give thanks.


NEWS AND EVENTS Town Board Items Election Update – Congratulations to Paul Feiner (Town Supervisor 2 year term), Judith Beville (Town Clerk 2 year term), Francis Sheehan and Ellen Hendrickx (Town Council, 4 year term), and Anne Povella (Tax Receiver 2 year term) on their recent election victories. There is also a new County Legislator (2 year term) for part of Hartsdale, Jewell Williams and Mary Jane Shimskey was re-elected to another term as a County Legislator as well.There are 3 Town of Greenburgh judges. One of those judges, Christie D’Alessio, was elected to NYS Supreme Court so there is an open seat that will be filled by appointment of the Town Board. The appointment will be for 1 year then it will be filled via election next November. This is a paid ($73k) part-time position. If you are interested you are encouraged to email a statement and a bio to townboard@greenburghny.com.New Interim Police Chief0(0%) – George Longworth, former Dobbs Ferry Police Chief was appointed as the interim chief following Chief McNerney’s resignation to head up the Larchmont P.D. Chief Longworth is not being considered for the permanent position and is a placeholder until mid-2022 when the Police Chief civil service exam results will be released. The Town Board will be able to choose from the top 3 candidates at that time.11/22 Town Board Meeting0(0%) – The next Town Board meeting is this Monday because of the Thanksgiving holiday. This is the first public hearing for the 2022 Operating Budget as well as a public hearing regarding an update to the zoning regulations pertaining to Marijuana dispensaries. The Town Board has signaled its intention to opt-out and not allow retail dispensary locations in Unincorporated Greenburgh. Neighboring White Plains, New Rochelle, and Tarrytown have decided to opt-in and allow sales. Ardsley, Elmsford, Irvington, and Eastchester have opted out and Scarsdale is undecided. 2022 Town Budget The Greenburgh 2022 Operating Budget is highlighted by no change in the Tax Levy for both the Townwide and Unincorporated budgets. As a reminder, all residents of Greenburgh pay into the Townwide budget including village residents, but only Unincorporated residents (Edgemont, Hartsdale, Fairview) pay into the larger B budget. Village residents pay a separate village tax to their local village for those services. The tax rate for both budgets will actually decrease due to Town Wide assessment changes, but the overall revenue raised from property taxes will be flat. Some residents will see a property tax increase because of their assessment change and some will see a decrease; the net impact is zero. Click here for the full budget. Town Wide Budget Projected spending will decrease by $4mm in the Townwide budget but the decrease is really an accounting move as it projects less money to be spent for the new Police/Courthouse building. The 2021 budget projected $12.5mm to be spent and 2022 has $7.4mm projected. Only $160k was spent last year and it is unrealistic to think any significant spending will occur in 2022 as well. That is the only significant change to note here. Unincorporated Budget The Unincorporated Budget projects a spending increase of $3mm or about 3.5%, the main driver of which is a 14% increase in police spending. This is primarily the result of a $2.2mm increase in salaries due to the new police contract. The contract includes retroactive raises for 2021 which are included in this year’s budget. The budget uses a combination of potential building permit revenue increase (Regeneron) and a drawdown on the fund balance to keep the tax levy flat. The Town is receiving approximately $4.5mm in Federal aid for the Unincorporated area split into $2.2mm in 2021 and 2022.

NEWS AND EVENTS

Town Board Items Election Update – Congratulations to Paul Feiner (Town Supervisor 2 year term), Judith Beville (Town Clerk 2 year term), Francis Sheehan and Ellen Hendrickx (Town Council, 4 year term), and Anne Povella (Tax Receiver 2 year term) on their recent election victories. There is also a new County Legislator (2 year term) for part of Hartsdale, Jewell Williams and Mary Jane Shimskey was re-elected to another term as a County Legislator as well.There are 3 Town of Greenburgh judges. One of those judges, Christie D’Alessio, was elected to NYS Supreme Court so there is an open seat that will be filled by appointment of the Town Board. The appointment will be for 1 year then it will be filled via election next November. This is a paid ($73k) part-time position. If you are interested you are encouraged to email a statement and a bio to townboard@greenburghny.com.New Interim Police Chief0(0%) – George Longworth, former Dobbs Ferry Police Chief was appointed as the interim chief following Chief McNerney’s resignation to head up the Larchmont P.D. Chief Longworth is not being considered for the permanent position and is a placeholder until mid-2022 when the Police Chief civil service exam results will be released. The Town Board will be able to choose from the top 3 candidates at that time.11/22 Town Board Meeting0(0%) – The next Town Board meeting is this Monday because of the Thanksgiving holiday. This is the first public hearing for the 2022 Operating Budget as well as a public hearing regarding an update to the zoning regulations pertaining to Marijuana dispensaries. The Town Board has signaled its intention to opt-out and not allow retail dispensary locations in Unincorporated Greenburgh. Neighboring White Plains, New Rochelle, and Tarrytown have decided to opt-in and allow sales. Ardsley, Elmsford, Irvington, and Eastchester have opted out and Scarsdale is undecided.

2022 Town Budget

The Greenburgh 2022 Operating Budget is highlighted by no change in the Tax Levy for both the Townwide and Unincorporated budgets. As a reminder, all residents of Greenburgh pay into the Townwide budget including village residents, but only Unincorporated residents (Edgemont, Hartsdale, Fairview) pay into the larger B budget. Village residents pay a separate village tax to their local village for those services. The tax rate for both budgets will actually decrease due to Town Wide assessment changes, but the overall revenue raised from property taxes will be flat. Some residents will see a property tax increase because of their assessment change and some will see a decrease; the net impact is zero. Click here for the full budget.

Town Wide Budget

Projected spending will decrease by $4mm in the Townwide budget but the decrease is really an accounting move as it projects less money to be spent for the new Police/Courthouse building. The 2021 budget projected $12.5mm to be spent and 2022 has $7.4mm projected. Only $160k was spent last year and it is unrealistic to think any significant spending will occur in 2022 as well. That is the only significant change to note here.

Unincorporated Budget

The Unincorporated Budget projects a spending increase of $3mm or about 3.5%, the main driver of which is a 14% increase in police spending. This is primarily the result of a $2.2mm increase in salaries due to the new police contract. The contract includes retroactive raises for 2021 which are included in this year’s budget. The budget uses a combination of potential building permit revenue increase (Regeneron) and a drawdown on the fund balance to keep the tax levy flat. The Town is receiving approximately $4.5mm in Federal aid for the Unincorporated area split into $2.2mm in 2021 and 2022.

Budget	2022 Projected Spending	2021 Spending	2022 Property Taxes	2021 Property Taxes
Town Wide	28,719,632	32,880,631	9,321,202	9,321,202
Unincorporated	90,157,065	87,123,514	59,201,693	59,201,693
Total	118,876,697	120,004145	68,522895	68,522,895

Hartsdale Fire Department

Reminder: there is an upcoming election where 2 of the 5 seats on the Board of Commissioners for the Hartsdale Fire Department will be selected. 1 seat is open for the full 5-year term and a second seat is open for an interim position of 1 year. If you are interested in running for one of the open seats you can pick up a petition at the FireHouse on W. Hartsdale Avenue, then you must collect 25 signatures of registered voters in the Hartsdale Fire District. You must return that petition by 11/24. Any questions please let us know.

HNA MEMBER INFORMATION
The Hartsdale Neighbors Association (HNA) is a group of passionate volunteers who are driven to improve our community. We foster neighborhood engagement and community-based problem solving, enhance civic awareness and provide a vehicle for community-based efforts. If you’d like to be more involved with HNA and join the Executive Board, one of our committees or other efforts, please contact us at info@hartsdaleneighbors.org.

IMPORTANT DATES
Greenburgh Town Board Meeting – November 22
Hartsdale Fire District Election – December 14
GCSD Special Budget Vote – December 14

November 2021 Newsletter