White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Comptroller: 2013 Inflation Predicted to be 2.9%. Pressures city, school budgets

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the New York State Comptroller's Office. September 18, 2012: The New York State Comptroller's office released the 2013 property tax cap Monday, informing news outlets the rate that cities and school districts could raise their tax levy in 2013 would remain at 2%, though the comptroller's office predicts inflation to hit 2.9%. The property tax cap which affects the amount cities can increase their levy, not the rate of property tax was 2% this year, which resulted in a 4.9% property tax increase in the city of White Plains, and a 3.03% property tax increase in the city school district this year, which supported raising the school tax levy in line with the state tax cap 2.03%. The nearly 3% inflation rate will put more pressure on the 2013-14 city due to its binding arbitration process (where settlements are traditionally derived considering rates of inflation and parallel contracts in similar sized cities) now engaged with the city police union, and the mediation process begun with the city firefighters last week. The school district is currently stymied in its attempt to reach a new contract with the White Plains Teachers Association, which narrowly voted (52% to 48%) to reject a mediator's suggested settlement. The Teacher Association leadership is currently evaluating the reasons why the teachers declined the contract, and remains undecided as to their next course of action. The inflationary prediction by the Comptroller's Office will put further pressure on the school district 2013-2014 budget, which will automatically increase the school property tax .72% if the public passes the $48.3 Million facilities construction bond on October 23.


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