I am very pleased to report that the United States Congress has passed and the President has signed a bill which excludes from gross income any disaster mitigation payments paid to property owners by the federal government. I had contacted Congresswoman Nita Lowey and our Senators earlier this year after learning of an IRS decision that would tax the Babbitt Courtresidents who raised their house on the amount of the FEMA grant. President Bush signed the legislation on April 15, 2005creating Public Law 109-7.

Those residents of Babbitt Courtwho included their hazard mitigation grant payments as income can file an amended return. There were five affected homeowners who raised their homes and would have been taxed, taking advantage of federal grant dollars the town had secured for the neighborhood. I’m very pleased that Congresswoman Nita Lowey was able to get results for the residents of Babbitt Courtquickly.

ASKING THE TOWN BOARD TO AUTHORIZE LIVE STREAMING OF TOWN BOARD MEETINGS…

I am asking the Greenburgh Town Board to authorize live streaming of Town Board meetings on the web. This will enable residents of Greenburgh to watch Town Board meetings live on the internet, to call in if they have a question or comment. Currently, meetings are archived on the web but only residents who have access to cable TV can watch meetings live. Live streaming of Town Board meetings will make our government even more open!  The Town Board will discuss this next Tuesday.

PAUL FEINER
GreenburghTownSupervisor