Nov 17, 2009 12:10 am US/Eastern
Westchester To Get Hammered By Property Taxes
Outgoing County Exec Spano Calling For 4.9 Percent Hike, But Legislator Vows To Find Places To 'Cut, Cut, Cut'
WHITE PLAINS (CBS) ―
Outgoing Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano is ready dish to out a possible going away present.
But it's a gift homeowners aren't going to like -- another increase in property taxes.
If you live in Westchester and have a house, you'll be paying a little bit more money.
"This works out to about $100 a year for the average home, the average taxpayer," Spano said.
Spano said raising property taxes by almost 5 percent was the only option given the fiscal realities of next year where sales taxes are expected to drop more than $50 million while mandated costs are jumping by almost $70 million. The $121 million total has to come from somewhere and Spano said you can only cut services so much.
"The quality of life is our biggest asset here. That's why people come to live here, why companies come to work here. If we cut that then our asset is gone," Spano said.
But Legislator Mike Kaplowitz doesn't buy that and said a property tax increase isn't an option.
"Obviously we're going to have to cut. We can't do anything about the revenue side, sales tax are down because people aren't spending. We therefore are going to spend thee next 45 days finding ways to cut, cut and cut because that's all people care about and need is relief from property taxes," Kaplowitz said.
In the meantime, homeowners aren't happy but some understand.
"You can't always expect cuts. At some point you have to pay for what you get," one homeowner said.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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