05/08/09 The Question Of The Day

Why can't Westchester be like Greenwich? lohud.com The Journal News

To The Editor,

The Sunday New York Times real estate section included the disturbing news of a sharp increase in the number of Westchester County seniors who fully own their homes, yet are now forced to apply for reverse mortgages to meet their property tax bills. The same article also stated that a house valued at $1.2 million would warrant $24,000 in property taxes in Larchmont, but the same house in Greenwich, Conn., would result in a tax bill of $8,000.

Does anyone believe the police, fire and school services in Greenwich are so poor compared with Larchmont that the tax bill should be one-third? Of course not -Greenwich schools and other services are virtually indistinguishable with those in wealthy Westchester towns and villages.

The difference is the costly, multiple layers of Westchester County government. Where are The Journal News' inquiries regarding this sharp difference for similar municipal services? The Journal News questions government officials daily.

Now is the time for a simple question - why isn't the Greenwich method of delivery of services, and resulting "low" tax bill good enough for Westchester? Stop making excuses, there is a clear example to follow.

John Gray
Katonah

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