WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. May 13, 2004: Councilwoman Rita Malmud told WPCNR Wednesday evening that in an informal discussion Tuesday evening during a Budget Meeting, councilmembers informally agreed among themselves to increase taxes approximately another 6% over Mayor Delfino's proposed 7.9% tax increase. The new tax increase impact, Malmud said was 12.7%. The budget will move to $114.5 Million (when you include the White Plains Public Library budget). This means, that if you as a resident, own a $600,000 home in White Plains, your city property tax will increase $244.74, from $1,963 in 2003-04 to $2,212.30 in 2004-05.

When asked why this discussion of analyzing budget options was entered into when it was not on the Common Council Agenda issued for the meeting late Tuesday afternoon, Ms. Malmud had no explanation. The agenda issued for the meeting said that though it was a budget meeting, the items for discussion were Dr. Frank Straub on the Public Safety Budget and a discussion of the Human Rights Commission, and an executive session on litigation. It is tradition that matters to be discussed are placed on the written agenda.

Had the budget options been mentioned on the agenda as an item for discussion, media coverage might have been present, which it was not. The Journal News reporter, Susan Elan told WPCNR she was not aware budget options were going to be discussed either, because Richard Liebson, her colleague was only assigned to cover Dr. Straub's segment of the meeting since it covered the firefighter person power issue. )

Seeing to it that no reporters were present to inform the public, the council felt comfortable discussing the $4.1 Million pension bill, bonding for a portion of it, and arriving at an informal consensus of what they wanted to do.

According to Ms. Malmud the Council is agreed that the city will bond for half the $4.1 million needed to meet the city's pension fund obligation to the state, (at a 3% property tax increase, per million borrowed), to meet the budget. Ms. Malmud said she could not attend Decision Night if it were held next Monday, May 17, as scheduled, according to Rick Ammirato of the Mayor's Office.

Apparently, Decision Night has already happened. Today, in the Journal News, Ms. Elan reports that Mayor Delfino is not in agreement with the Common Counsel's handling of the $4.1 Million budget shortfall. No statement was issued by The Mayor's Office on the budget increase.