(Edge-Xit) What it means to the residents of Hartsdale and the rest - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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(Edge-Xit) What it means to the residents of Hartsdale and the rest - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Unincorporated Greenburgh North Edgemont Incorporation South (Edge-Xit) What it means to the residents of Hartsdale and the rest of Unincorporated Greenburgh March 1, 2017 Hartsdale Neighbors Association Join @

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Edgemont Incorporation (Edge-Xit)

What it means to the residents of Hartsdale and the rest of Unincorporated Greenburgh March 1, 2017

Unincorporated Greenburgh

North South

Hartsdale Neighbors Association

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Agenda

  • Jason Muldoon

Introductions & Ground Rules

  • Dan Weinfeld

Demystifying Town Organizational Structure & Budget

  • Dan Weinfeld

Dynamics Driving Incorporation Movement

  • Luis Polit

Let’s Dive Into the Numbers

  • Luis Polit

Timeline for Incorporation & Transition of Services

  • Jason Muldoon

Next Steps

  • All

Q&A

  • Karen Kelly

Voter Registration & HNA Signup

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Demystifying the Town Organizational Structure & Budget

Town of Greenburgh

  • POP. 88,400 (2010 census)

5 member Town Board

6 INCORPORATED VILLAGES Total Villages POP 45,537 (each votes for village Mayor/Trustees, Town Board, taxpayers pay into the “A” Budget

Irvington (6,420)

Unincorporated Area (votes only for Town Board, taxpayers pay into the “A” and “B” Budgets) TOV POP 42,863 Edgemont (Greenville) (7,454), Hartsdale (5,293), Fairview (3,099), other neighborhoods

Hastings (7,849) Ardsley (4,452) Elmsford (4,664)

Dobbs Ferry (10,875)

Tarrytown (11,277)

“A”, Town-Entire Budget; $20.6 million “B”, Town-Outside Villages (TOV) Budget; $78.5 million

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Demystifying the Town Organizational Structure & Budget

Town of Greenburgh Unincorporated area (defined by blue border) and 6 incorporated villages Westchester County Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

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Dynamics Driving Incorporation Movement

EDGEMONT (AKA “GREENVILLE”): (it’s all about the schools)

  • close knit, affluent, relatively homogenous community of 7,500 inside unincorporated

Greenburgh

  • borders nearly co-terminus with Edgemont School District and Greenville Fire Department
  • identity and high property values are derived from community investment and pride in the

esteemed EDGEMONT SCHOOL DISTRICT;

  • 10583 effect: historically, Edgers have identified more closely with neighboring and similar

Scarsdale than with the rest of more diverse TOV (Hartsdale and Fairview) and Greenburgh

  • Edgemont residents are not significant users of Greenburgh recreational facilities: i.e.,

Veterans Park pool or TDY Community Center and indoor pool in Fairview

  • Incorporation fads: every couple of decades, Edgemont has explored – and rejected -

incorporation

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Dynamics Driving Incorporation Movement

THIS TIME IT’S DIFFERENT: TRIGGERS (not in order of importance)

  • Fears that new Greenburgh Comprehensive Plan calls for increased housing density

along Central Avenue which could increase school district enrollment without a proportional increase in property tax revenue (“DEFENDING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT”)

  • Recent high profile litigation and disputes with Town over zoning and variances

(Shelburne & Dromore): incorporation to give Edgemont control over Planning/Zoning

  • Concern that 2016 town-wide reassessment resulting in an increase of assessed

Edgemont residential values by 9.7%, will lead to a proportional rise in TOV tax burden placed on Edgemont

  • Wariness about upcoming major infrastructure costs: renovation of the Veterans Park

pool (est. $8.0 - $10.0 million); police station on Tarrytown Road

  • Perception of inefficiencies in town management: “we can spend our $ better”
  • Edgemont frustration with inability to shape town politics (only 8% of town pop.)
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Dynamics Driving Incorporation Movement

  • 2005: Edgemont Village Exploratory Committee (EVEC) releases a 38-page white paper

concluding that becoming a village would not be economically feasible

  • 2008/2009: economic and housing crisis puts incorporation on backburner
  • 2013: Democratic primary for Supervisor exposes simmering Edgemont dissatisfaction with

Greenburgh leadership & distinctness from rest of Town: challenger Bob Bernstein won 77% in Edgemont - long-time Town Supervisor Paul Feiner: 23%. Feiner won Greenburgh easily with 64% townwide.

  • 2016: Town Board approves the Comprehensive Plan
  • Town wide property reassessment results in Edgemont residents seeing a 9.7% increase

(compared to Greenburgh Central School District decrease of 10.75%)

  • Shelburne and Dromore zoning disputes spur Edgemont discontent with Town leadership
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Dynamics Driving Incorporation Movement

  • Edgemont Incorporation Committee (EIC) forms to revisit the possibility of becoming a village
  • Edgemont incorporation fervor catches on: pro-incorp signs and bumper stickers appear on lawns

and vehicles; meetings, fundraisers and active social media campaigns; sense of generational change with new, energetic EIC leadership (not the "usual suspects");

  • December 2016, Zions Public and Novak Consulting retained by EIC issue a 68-page report

purportedly demonstrating the financial feasibility – even savings - of incorporation

  • 2017: Town invites EIC leader Jeff Sherwin to serve on the planning board; offer was turned down
  • “Living Room Summit” in Manor Woods reveals no active negotiations between Town and EIC
  • It starts: EIC files incorporation petitions with 1,455 signatures on Feb. 27, 2017
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Let’s Dive Into the Numbers Assessed Values & Population

$75,822,685 , 26% $213,829,088 , 74%

ASSESSED VALUE

Edgemont Rest of TOV 7,454 , 17% 35,409 , 83%

POPULATION

Edgemont Rest of TOV

26% reduction in assessables if Edgemont become village

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Let’s Dive Into the Numbers Revenue – 2017 Town Outside Villages (TOV) Budget

$55.9 , 71% $1.6 , 2% $6.2 , 8% $1.2 , 1% $4.0 , 5% $5.4 , 7% $0.4 , 1% $3.9 , 5% $- , 0%

ADOPTED BUDGET

PROPERTY TAXES OTHER COUNTY SALES TAX SHARE CABLE FRANCHISE FEE DEPARTMENTAL INCOME LICENSES & PERMITS FEDERAL/STATE AID FUND BALANCE

Incorporation results in $17.5 million reduction in revenues

$41.3 , 68% $1.2 , 2% $5.1 , 8% $1.0 , 2% $3.8 , 6% $4.5 , 7% $0.3 , 1% $3.9 , 6%

BUDGET POST EDGE-XIT

$ 78.5 million revenues $ 61.0 million revenues

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Let’s Dive Into the Numbers Revenue Assumptions

  • Due to loss or Edgemont assessables of 26%, property tax revenues drop accordingly
  • Departmental income represents, for the most part EMS billings and recreational facility

user fees for AF Veterans Park and Community Center in Fairview

  • Edgemont to decide whether it wants to use AF Veterans Park and other recreational

venues and pay a ''fair share'' of the costs of maintaining and operating the facilities; feelers are they will opt-out; since Edgemont residents not heavy users of the recreational facilities, expect minimum income reduction

  • Sales tax distribution from Westchester County, cable franchise fees, licenses and

permits, federal and state aid drop (used as a proxy the 17% decline in TOV population)

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Let’s Dive Into the Numbers Appropriations– 2017 Town Outside Villages (TOV) Budget

$6.0 , 8% $19.3 , 25% $8.2 , 10% $5.0 , 6% $3.2 , 4% $17.2 , 22% $3.7 , 5% $7.2 , 9% $8.7 , 11%

ADOPTED BUDGET

GENERAL GOV'T SUPPORT POLICE RECREATION SANITATION OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS LIBRARY HIGHWAY DEBT SERVICE

$78.5 million appropriations $ 61.0 million appropriations

?

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Let’s Dive Into the Numbers Impact to property tax bill if no change to TOV budget $15,500 Assessed Value – BASIC STAR (Est. Market of $580,000)

County Tax, $1,684.0 , 11% Town Outside Villages (TOV), $2,994.0 , 20% Town Entire, $259.0 , 2% Sewer District, $331.0 , 2% School District (after Basic STAR), $6,576.0 , 45% County refuse, $154.0 , 1% Fire District, $2,784.0 , 19%

CURRENT PROPERTY TAX - $14,782

County Tax $1,684.0 10% Town Outside Villages (TOV) $4,260.0 27% Town Entire $259.0 2% Sewer District $331.0 2% School District (after Basic STAR) $6,576.0 41% County refuse $154.0 1% Fire District $2,784.0 17%

PROPERTY TAX IF NO CHANGE TO BUDGET - $16,048

Tax bill up $1,266 – TOV 42.3%, Total 8.6%

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Let’s Dive Into the Numbers Impact to property tax bill if no change to TOV budget $6,500 Assessed Value – ENHANCED STAR (Est. Market of $245,000)

County Tax, $706 , 17% Town Outside Villages (TOV), $1,255 , 31% Town Entire, $109 , 3% Sewer District, $139 , 3% School District (after Enhanced STAR), $648 , 16% County refuse, $65 , 2% Fire District, $1,167 , 28%

CURRENT PROPERTY TAX - $4,089

County Tax $706 15% Town Outside Villages (TOV) $1,786 39% Town Entire $109 2% Sewer District $139 3% School District (after Enhanced STAR) $648 14% County refuse $65 2% Fire District $1,167 25%

PROPERTY TAX IF NO CHANGE TO BUDGET - $4,620

Tax bill up $531– TOV 42.3%, Total 12.9%

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Let’s Dive Into the Numbers Closing the TOV Financing Gap

Closing $17.5 million Financing gap Budget/Staffing reductions Agreement with Edgemont Village for municipal services Tax increases Combination

  • f all
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Timeline for Incorporation & Transition of Services

  • New York State Village Law stipulates the milestones that must be achieved to effect

incorporation

  • Edgemont residents control the petition and its filing with the Town Supervisor; after the

submission, the steps prescribed in New York Stat Village law drives the process

  • After submission the petition can be challenged for legal sufficiency
  • Incorporation can be unilaterally accomplished by Edgemont residents; rest of

unincorporated residents do not have veto power – WE DO NOT VOTE

  • A simple majority of the valid votes cast for incorporation is all that is necessary to effect

incorporation

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2017

Today Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2017 Feb Mar Apr May Jun

EIC fundraiser

9/30/2016

Petition for incorporation submitted to Town Supervisor with 1,455 signatures

2/27/2017

Proceeding on Hearing (20 days)

4/10/2017

Right to Election (30 days)

5/22/2017

Special Election (40 days)

6/30/2017

EIC Feasibility Presentation/Zion Public Finance

12/7/2016

Notice of Hearing (20 days)

3/20/2017

Decision As to Legal Sufficiency of Petition (10 days)

4/20/2017 Fri, Jul 1, 2016 - Tue, Jan 31, 2017

Petition for incorporation signature gathering effort Timeline assumes there are no legal challenges

Timeline for Incorporation & Transition of Services Special Election

Need 1,000 signatures out of an estimated 5,000 voters

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2018

Jun Aug Oct Dec Feb Apr Jun

Certificate of incorporation (1 day)

7/3/2017

Report of incorporation (15 days) [filed with secretary of state, state comptroller, county clerk]

7/18/2017

7/12 of Edgemont portion

  • f property taxes to be

refunded by Town

6/1/2018

Special Election (40 days)

6/30/2017

Effective date of incorpooration

1/1/2018 Mon, Jan 1, 2018 - Thu, May 31, 2018

Town and District Services Continued

Timeline for Incorporation & Transition of Services Transition of Municipal Services and Refund of Taxes

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Next Steps: Town Board

We are demanding that the town:

  • Acknowledge the day-after incorporation scenario and begin drawing up strategic plans for

the future of unincorporated Greenburgh including

  • Best case and worst case budget scenarios
  • Potential changes to services
  • Form a citizens advisory board to advise on the future of unincorporated Greenburgh
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Next Steps: Hartsdale Neighbors Association

We are aiming to:

  • Unite a critical mass of voters in a movement to exert influence on our public policy makers
  • Explore Hartsdale incorporation
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Next Steps: You

We are asking you to:

  • Consider getting involved and having a say in the future of your community by joining our
  • group. We need members to help with our campaigns and organize community events.
  • Monthly meeting for active members
  • Regular community forums
  • Future topics of discussion include schools, parking, and quality of life
  • Sign up for email alerts on Hartsdale Neighbors Association webpage and stay informed

about upcoming events within the group and the community.

  • http://hartsdaleneighbors.org
  • Biweekly email updates
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Wrap Up

Q&A