Tax Penalty Refunds and Property Assessments: What You Should Know
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Good news for those who paid tax penalties due to a failure by the Post Office to deliver their tax bills last August. Governor Hochul signed a bill, that was passed by both the NYS Assembly and the NYS Senate to permit the Village to refund those penalties. The form to complete it is on the Village website here:
The Mayor says he expects it to take 4-6 weeks to process the requests and issue the refunds.
Property Taxes
In other news about property taxes, Village Assessor Victoria Sirota held a session with Village Trustees on October 8, 2024 to review how property taxes are calculated and to update the Board on her efforts to identify underassessed properties in the Village.
She began with an explanation of how the overall assessed value for the Village of Scarsdale is calculated, and then explained how individual properties are assessed. The taxable assessed value of all Village properties has steadily increased since 2017, going from $8,941,755 billion in in 2017 to $9,304,433 billion in 2024. To determine the share of the total county tax levy owed by Scarsdale, the Village is assigned an equalization rate.
Individual taxes are calculated by multiplying the assessed value of the property by the tax rate and dividing by 1,000. For instance in 2024, for a home valued at $1,400,000, taxes are calculated by multiplying the home value by the average tax rate (27.37) and dividing by 1,000 for a total of $38,318.
Under-assessed Properties
Sirota then explained the process her office is undertaking to identify under-assessed properties where renovations and upgrades may have been done without building permits.
Since the Village can only adjust assessments when closing out building permits or granting certificates of occupancy, that’s their only opportunity to inspect homes to ensure what’s built matches what is shown on the property record on the Village website.
Her office has been reviewing public information on properties and comparing those to the Village’s property records. Based on her analysis of sales, in 2024 they found 84 properties with discrepancies adding an average of $99,300 in assessed value to each.
She has identified the following extras that are often not noted on the property records:
-Additional living area from conversion of attached garages, porches or third stories
-Finished basements
-Finished spaces above detached garages which may serve as Accessory Dwelling Units
-Pool cabanas
-Additional bathrooms
-Changes in the house grade or condition
-Addition of patios and sports courts that were not in the plans
-Replacement of swimming pools
-Outdoor kitchens
-Installation of central air conditioning
Based on this work, she estimates that an additional $8,300,000 of value has been added that has not been accounted for this year. Since Scarsdale’s total tax bill is a fixed sum, if some are under-assessed then others are paying more than their fair share. Therefore the assessor is seeking to address these discrepancies to ensure fairness and equity.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Village asked their attorney to investigate ways that the Village could address these inventory discrepancies with homeowners.
Remembering Ruth Raskin: Photographer, Mother and Advocate
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(The following was submitted by Allison Raskin, daughter of Ruth Raskin.)
Ruth Raskin, an accomplished photographer, mother, wife and grandmother, passed away on the evening of September 23 surrounded by family in her home. For the past two months, Ruth put up a tireless, brave and graceful fight against the currently fatal Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). In a continuation of her generous spirit, she selflessly donated her brain to further research into finding a cure so other families will not have to go through a similar loss.
Since her childhood upstate in Binghamton, to her teenage years in the Bronx to her adulthood in Westchester County, Ruth has been the epitome of a New Yorker. She impressed everyone with her wit, her extensive knowledge and her (mostly black) wardrobe. She leaves behind a rich legacy of her photography, which has been shown in countless galleries in the tri-state area. From her experimental chemograms to her black and white signature style, Ruth’s keen eye showed us all how to look at the world in a different way. Her family will do their best to continue to share her powerful art with the world.
Ruth’s impact extended far past those who knew her personally. She was an outspoken and avid advocate for children struggling with mental health disorders. Her advice and guidance, shared primarily through podcasts and her youngest daughter’s writing, touched thousands all over the globe. Ruth modeled a compassionate form of motherhood that helped heal peoples’ own experiences as children struggling with their mental health, as well as taught others what type of parent they want to be. Children and adults everywhere are better off because of her far-reaching, empathetic influence.
As we lay Ruth’s body to rest, we remain engulfed by her love. Her devotion to her family was a blessing to witness and experience. She never faltered to show up for everyone around her and showed us all what it means for love to be a verb and not just a feeling. While we are devastated by losing her far too soon, we are all the better for having known her for the cherished time we did have together. She is survived by her devoted husband, Ken Raskin, her two daughters, Jocelyn Verdi and Allison Raskin, and her two granddaughters, Bella and Vienna Verdi. Her memory and humor will remain with all of us.
Her family is raising funds in her memory for research on Creutafeldt-Jakob Disease. Learn more here:
Celebrity Author Visit to Scarsdale October 9
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Best-selling author Chris Whitaker will visit Scarsdale on Wednesday night October 9 at 7 pm at an event sponsored by the Scarsdale Adult School when he will discuss his latest hit, “All the Colors of the Dark,” a soaring thriller and an epic love story that spans decades.
See Whitaker in conversation with Crown Publishing’s Senior Vice President and Fiction Publisher Amy Einhorn, during his limited US tour for a discussion of the book, that Jenna Bush Hager is turning into a mini-series.
(Book Description) This heart-wrenching genre-bending epic depicts the fine line that separates light and dark, triumph and tragedy, and devotion and obsession. Set in Missouri beginning in the 1970s and spanning over 25 years, the novel is part mystery, part serial killer thriller, and part love story. Girls in the small town of Monta Clare have been disappearing. When the daughter of a wealthy family becomes the target, an unlikely hero emerges in Patch Macauley, a local boy, born with only one eye, who saves her. Haunting and beautiful, the story explores how childhood wounds impact adulthood as it focuses on Patch, his best friend Saint, and Patch's multi-year effort to locate another one of the girls who had been abducted.
Gillian Flynn author of Gone Girl says, “From the author of We Begin at the End comes a soaring thriller and an epic love story that “hits like a sledgehammer . . . an absolutely must-read novel.”
Amy Einhorn is the Senior Vice President and Fiction Publisher at Crown Publishing. Previously, she was President at Henry Holt & Co., Publisher at Flatiron Books, and had her own eponymous imprint, Amy Einhorn Books, at Penguin Random House. Einhorn has published many New York Times bestselling fiction authors, including Chris Whitaker, Liane Moriarty, Min Jin Lee, and others, as well as bestselling memoirs and narrative nonfiction by authors such as James Comey, Jenny Lawson, and Amy Sedaris.
Attend this event from Scarsdale Adult School on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024 from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm at Scarsdale Public Library. The fee is $35. Sign up here:
Friday Night Neon Lights for Scarsdale Raiders Football Homecoming
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Nicholas Ebner Borst (5) stiff-arms John Jay's would-be tackler.Raider fans came out strong for the neon themed homecoming against the John Jay Patriots of East Fishkill. The stands were packed with students, parents, grandparents, siblings and alums wearing neon shirts, beads and glow stick bands.
Coming into this game Scarsdale was 1-0. Captain and quarterback (senior) Nick Ebner Borst commented after the game that homecoming had particular significance for the team. At last year's varsity football playoff game, the Raiders lost to this John Jay team. The motivation of the loss got the team to prepare for fall by working out and lifting together immediately in the spring off season. Ebner Borst added that this season, they are facing a very tough schedule and have worked especially hard in the August football camp to prepare. More importantly, he emphasized that there is a special brotherhood of the thirty-five players on the varsity team made up of mostly juniors and seniors as well as two sophomores. The team has bonded so well at practice, eating together, extra lifting sessions and during downtime like watching pro football on Sundays that just last week a senior, Jackson Star decided to join the team to be part of this special family. 
Senior Logan Mancusi (11) and Alex Krupkin (15) combine to make the tackleDespite the buzz and glow of the crowd, the homecoming game started off slow. The Raiders defense did a great job holding off the Patriot’s offense including a long pass tackle by #11, senior Logan Mancusi to prevent a touchdown. However, with 6:51 left in the first quarter, John Jay would kick a field goal making the score 0-3. This score would not change for the remainder of the half. A few defense plays to note were the quarterback sacks made by #42, junior Colin Brennen and by #50, junior Leo Green. In the last drive before the end of the half, the Raiders moved the ball down the field picking up yards by #15, junior Alex Krupkin with two consecutive run gains. However, in the last seventeen seconds of the first half and fourth down, there was a “hail mary” play which was intercepted by John Jay. The Patriots didn’t have time to do much as the clock ran down to zero. The half ended with a hard hit by #12, senior Mason Crane.
Junior Leo Green (50) fights off a John Jay blocker.There was amazing energy as Scarsdale’s offense, defense and special teams took the field at the start of the half making for very exciting third and fourth quarters. Scarsdale kicked off to John Jay and held them without a conversion. In Scarsdale’s first drive of the half they started on their own fifteen yard line. On the first down, #44, senior Ryan Gilligan was handed the football for a seventy yard rush to the Patriots fifteen yard line. After gaining a couple more yards, on fourth down, quarterback Ebner Borst scored a Raiders touchdown by running into the endzone from the eleven yard line. Number 17, captain and senior Mikey Vibbert kicked the extra point and the score was then 7-3 with 4:48 left in the third quarter. The Raider’s defense held the Patriots for the rest of the third quarter with impressive tackles by #50, junior Leo Green, #88, senior Andrew Burrows and #10, senior Michael Walsh. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, John Jay’s quarterback threw a long pass and the receiver scrambled for a touchdown. They made the extra point and the score was 7-10 with 10:49 left in the game. The Raiders went on to make two more touchdowns and held off the Patriots from scoring again. In the final minute of the game, #42, junior Colin Brennen had two consecutive quarterback sacks before the time ran out. The final score was 21-10 and the Raiders are now 2-0.
Neon Night in the stands.
In an interview with one of the four captains, Nick Ebner Borst, he was excited to talk about the very motivating locker room speech from Defense Assistant Coach Brian “Bags” Bagala. He said “Coach told us ‘Never fight alone. If you get punched in the mouth, you all fight back. You do your 1 of 11 together.’” Ebner Borst spoke about how they did just that in the second half. He thanked 
Junior Colin Brennan (42) takes a pitch and almost gets to the end zone.the defense and special teams for giving the offense team good field positions to make the points. Post game, Coach Bagala commented about the team saying, “they played hard, they played together.” He admires these boys for their teamwork, unselfish attitude, winning focus and humility. “This team doesn’t care who scores the touchdowns but is all about playing together and doing their part. We are looking forward to their next game away at Suffern on Friday”.
If Suffern is too far, Ebner Borst encourages all Raider fans to come out for their next home game on Friday October 18th vs Carmel at 6pm on Butler Field.
Photos by Dave Taber. See more here:
Senior Anders Burrows (88) and Junior Liam O’Neill (62) celebrate the Raiders win*
Junior Joseph Pappalardo (9) stops the John Jay runner for no gain.
Senior Ryan Gilligan (44) jump starts the Raiders with a long run in the 3rd quarter.
Senior Michael Vibbert (17) starts left before cutting back right to pick up extra yards.
Remembering Sally Harrington Beers
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Sara “Sally” Harrington Beers passed away September 7, 2024, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. Despite her diagnosis, she retained her sassy sarcasm until the end.
Sally was born in New Rochelle, NY on October 6, 1935, to William and Alice Harrington, the youngest of four children. She was raised in New Rochelle and Eastchester, NY. Determined to make her own mark on the world, Sally attended Dunbarton College in Washington, D.C., where she was involved in theater, student government, and attended countless social events in the surrounding area with her many suitors.
As a young adult, Sally traveled the world and lived as a bachelorette in New York City, a real world "Mary Tyler Moore". She always wanted to be a writer, and pursued a master’s degree in English so she could teach. In 1961 she was in a serious car accident and ended up in a coma. The injuries sustained affected her ability to complete her degree, though she continued to write.
In 1974, she met her husband, Philip, at church in New York City. They married that summer and had Christine, their only child, the following year. Phil and Sally moved from the city to the suburbs to raise their daughter in Scarsdale. Sally continued to work in various secretarial and office manager positions. They moved to Rye, NY in 1994 where they loved living in an apartment and tending to their garden. Sally never stopped writing and journaling every day. She was perhaps best known for her crossword puzzle prowess, frequently completing the Sunday NYTimes crossword in pen. She was very active in church, as a lector and confirmation class teacher at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Scarsdale, and later leading the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program at Resurrection Church in Rye.
Sally is survived by her daughter, Christine Weston (Ian) of Scarsdale, as well as two beloved grandsons, Sam (16) and Miles (13) Weston. She also leaves behind nieces and nephews and their families who she loved dearly. She was predeceased by her husband as well as by her three older siblings, William of Darien, CT, Paul of Somers, NY, and sister Joan Doyle of Scarsdale, NY.
A visitation for Sally will be held on Thursday, September 12, 2024 from 3-7pm at Edwin L. Bennett Funeral Home, 824 Scarsdale Ave, Scarsdale, NY 10583. A funeral mass will occur on Friday, September 13, 2024 at 10am at Annunciation Church at 470 Westchester Avenue, Crestwood, New York 10707, followed by a burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery at 10 W Stevens Ave, Hawthorne, NY 10532.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Calvary Hospital Home Hospice Program.
