Irvington Adopts 2012-13 Budget, Overrides Tax Cap

IRVINGTON, N.Y. – Irvington trustees unanimously approved a 2012-13 budget that would increase the tax rate by 3.94 percent and voted to override the tax levy cap during their Monday meeting.

The adopted budget is a modification of an earlier proposed budget that had a 4.77 percent increase in the tax rate. The trustees reduced the earlier proposed tax increase by continuing three layoffs in the Department of Public Works from this year and decreasing the amount of surplus.

Village Administrator Lawrence Schofner said Monday that the adopted budget works out to $275.75 per $1,000 of homeowners' assessed values.

The approved budget falls within the state tax levy cap, which limits the amount of money a municipality can raise through levying taxes to an increase of 2 percent. Mayor Brian Smith said the village board decided to override the tax levy cap anyway because “there are a number of scenarios that could result in a significant impact on the finances of the village in the future.”

“While we wish to fully comply with the spirit of the new tax levy cap, there are no reasons, other than political, to introduce that much potential uncertainty into the village’s finances,” Smith said.

A copy of the adopted budget is to be made available next week.

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