Politics & Government
County Tax Bill to Decrease for Peekskill, Increase Slightly for Cortlandt Residents
The county executive's office released estimated changes in the county tax levy by community Friday. Peekskill's contribution to the county budget will be 2.63 percent less in 2013, while Cortlandt's contribution will be 1.6 percent more.
Peekskill's contribution to the county tax levy will decrease by about 2.6 percent in 2013, likely providing a modest tax break for White Plains residents after the new year.
However, Cortlandt residents will see a slight increase of 1.6 percent, according to numbers released by the Westchester County Executive's Office today.
County Executive Robert Astorino released a municipality-by-municipality breakdown of the county's tax contributions Friday. While the recently approved county budget's tax levy is zero, differences in property value assessments from community to community create discrepencies in the amount owed within each muncipality.
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Mt. Vernon will enjoy the biggest decrease at 7.67 percent. In total, 14 communities will see their tax levy decrease next year and 11 will see an increase. The biggest increase was in Rye, at 7.46 percent.
The $1.7 billion county budget has a property tax levy of $548 million in 2013, the same amount as in 2012.
Find out what's happening in Peekskill-Cortlandtwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"The county has done its job to hold the line on our county property tax," Astorino said in a statement. "However, every year the county tax levy affects local governments differently."
County taxes account for between 15 and 20 percent of the average property owner's tax bill, about 60 percent of taxes are paid to local schools and approximately 20 percent goes to local government.
Local municipalities receive their tax bills from the county in the spring and handle collection of bills, which are usually due toward the end of April. While the county hands the tax levy down to local governments, it does not determine the exact tax rate handed down to taxpayers.
Tax Contribution Changes by Community (Increases in Bold)
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