Municipal officials said the overrides are the result of a squeeze on their budgets
. Some counties, towns and villages are overriding the cap as a precaution to ensure they are not penalized if they accidentally exceed their tax limit.
“Basically, it’s so difficult on how to come to that figure on the tax cap, you almost have to override it to protect yourself as a town,” said Dewey Decker, supervisor of the town of Sanford, Broome County.
About 1,575 taxing entities in New York, including fire districts and libraries, had filed their cap plans with the state Comptroller’s Office as of Thursday, or 58 percent of them. Of those, 387 said they planned an override, Gannett Albany Bureau’s review of the data showed. The governments run on a fiscal year that starts Jan. 1.
Locally, there are eight government entities in Putnam, 17 in Rockland and 33 in Westchester that have indicated they may override the cap on the property-tax levy. That includes Putnam and Rockland county governments but not Westchester County.
In Putnam, four towns — Carmel, Patterson, Philipstown and Southeast — and the Carmel, Kent No. 1 and Philipstown-North Highlands fire districts are seeking to override the cap.
In Rockland, four towns — Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown and Stony Point — three villages — Airmont, Montebello and Sloatsburg — six fire districts and three libraries have proposed going over the cap.
In Westchester, two cities — New Rochelle and Peekskill — three towns — Bedford, Mount Pleasant and Scarsdale — 24 fire districts, three libraries and one improvement district may override the cap.
