New Rochelle City Council Could Consider Overriding State Tax Cap

The New Rochelle City Council set in motion—but did not act on—a local law that would allow the municipality to override the state's 2 percent tax cap.

Mayor Noam Bramson said the council only scheduled a public hearing on the local law Dec. 6, the same day as the public hearing on the 2012 budget.

"The council has not made any judgment with respect to any specific aspect of the budget," he said, "and will be wrestling with difficult choices in the weeks ahead."

Bramson stressed that setting the public hearing was a procedural move to allow the council to possibly act on overriding the cap before the budget is approved.

He said the council has had no discussions on the merits of the local law.

"It could end up being that the public hearing will be unncessary," Bramson said.

The resolution to schedule the public hearing was agreed to unanimously.

City Manager Charles Strome III released his proposed 2012 budget Nov. 10. The total spending package is down $5 million dollars from the revised 2011 budget to $144 million.

If approved as proposed, the real estate tax levy would increase 3.68 percent, which is the maximum allowed by the state's "tax cap" legislation. The increase is comprised of the 2 percent growth rate allowable, plus a 1.68 percent exclusion due to pension cost increases.

The city faces the elimination of 36 full-time positions—including six firefighters—and 18 part-time crossing guard jobs under the proposed budget.