With minor variations, the 2013-2014 budgets for the Villages of Irvington, Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow, and Briarcliff Manor all tell the same story. Expenses over which the Villages have no control, such as pension funds and health insurance costs are going up, while the pool of available taxable assessments is dwindling. Three out of the four Villages managed to be under the cap; three out of the four Villages will see tax rate increases over 4%.

It is more of the same in Irvington, though happy circumstance has allowed the Village to bring in the lowest tax rate increase of the four villages at roughly 2.25%. “The budget really represents the same level of Village services [as in previous years],” says Village Administrator Lawrence Schopfer.

Residents of Tarrytown can expect a tax rate increase of 4.82%, which may seem like a lot, but it is a fraction of what it could have been and still have remained under the cap. When all was said and done, the Village of Tarrytown found itself sitting on an allowable tax levy increase total of $1,081,435, which means they could have increased tax rates over 10% and still have remained under the tax levy cap. In the end, they made do with an increase of $375,072, leaving nearly $706,000 on the table.

Sleepy Hollow is going over the tax levy cap for the second year in a row.  On its surface, that simple statement gives one a certain impression of reckless spending run amuck, but that impression is unjustified.

“The 2% cap is totally unfair to municipalities, because it does not cap expenses,” espouses Briarcliff Manor Village Manager Philip Zegarelli. “Nevertheless, [the Mayor and Town Board] have given me firm direction not to blow through the cap.