The Party Is Over--North Castle Residents Rise Up

In the December 19, 2008 edition of the Journal News the following article appeared.

NORTH CASTLE - The Town Board passed a budget last night with a 4.5 percent tax increase after a tumultuous budget season that saw hundreds of residents demanding little or no tax increase.

Hundreds of residents and the majority of the town workforce showed up to the budget meeting last night at Crittenden Middle School in Armonk, with residents saying town taxes shouldn't increase while they are being hit with the bad economy and police officers saying their numbers haven't grown in years since despite an increase in population and call volume.

"They're going to have to realize it's going to affect them sooner or later," PBA president Joe Horesky said today.

The 4.5 percent tax increase brings the tax rate up $5.99 per $1,000 in assessed value to $139.09. That brings taxes for a home assessed at the average of $23,800 to $3,310, up $143 from this year.

What the Journal News failed to mention was the nature of the town resident's grievances. The fact is that the Board Members are paid to generously at our expense. Each member receives the equivalent of nearly $55,000 per year in salary, health benefits and retirement benefits. Not too shabby for a part-time job that has very few requirements other than winning the quadrennial popularity contest at the ballot box. The town supervisor, Reese Berman, gets 117,000 of our tax dollars per year. Since she worked for the school system most of her career, it is difficult to calculate from the numbers given, her exact compensation package.

In addition, the issue of retiree health benefits was addressed by certain members of the audience. It was pointed out that the town spends nearly $1 million per annum on medical benefits for former employees who are already taking down large pensions and receiving social security and medicare benefits as well. In addition, the issue of Dr. Gene Matasow was raised as well. For those unaware, Matasow was a board member for just 8 years. According to Berman, he wrongfully received retiree medical benefits for the past 17 years at a cost of hundreds of thousands. However, she has absolutely no interest in righting this wrong.

Another frequent board critic, Michael Fareri, a town developer, chastised the Board for its anti-sensible growth policies. He pointed out that he warned the Board when the town building moratorium was passed, that in four years time they would come to regret their actions. Well, he just one year off on that prediction.

The amazing thing about the budget meeting was the number of town residents present. There were hundreds. At last year's budget meeting, there were less than ten. Its as if the town residents awoke from a slumber and suddenly looked around and realized that all of their possessions had been stolen. They were angrier than a group of Bernie Madoff investors attending a financial seminar.