What will happen to my taxes if Edgemont incorporates?
The Center for Government Research (CGR) was engaged by New York State to provide an independent, third-party analysis of the potential fiscal and operational impacts of Edgemont’s incorporation to become the Town of Greenburgh’s seventh village. The study, released in April 2024, found that Edgemont’s incorporation could result in virtually no increase in overall property tax liability for Edgemont residents. Please click here to visit the financial feasibility page of this website.
Where do we live?
The established, recognized community of Edgemont is an unincorporated neighborhood (aka “hamlet”) of the Town of Greenburgh. Edgemont has its own school and fire districts as well as civic organizations but is not its own self-governing municipality.
While most Edgemont properties carry a Scarsdale address, we are separate and apart from the Village of Scarsdale.
What is incorporation?
Incorporation is the process of converting an unincorporated area—e.g. Edgemont—into an independent, self-governing municipality with its own governing body (mayor, board of trustees) and legal powers. When a village is created, its area still remains a part of the town where it is located, and its residents continue to be residents and taxpayers of that town.
Incorporated villages are engaged in all aspects of local civic governance, including providing or procuring services; deciding service levels and how much to tax; implementing long-term and short term budget, capital, and land-use planning policies; making decisions on zoning matters; and promoting the character and identity of their communities. Currently, Greenburgh provides these functions for Edgemont. Were Edgemont to become a village, it would take on these responsibilities for itself.
There are currently six villages in Greenburgh, 23 in Westchester, and over 500 in New York State.
Why does the EIC believe that incorporation is best for Edgemont?
Voting. In Greenburgh, more than half the electorate resides in villages, but village residents pay minimal Town taxes. Edgemont is only 8% of the Town-wide voting population.
Zoning. The Town Board has repeatedly violated laws in connection with critical zoning, planning, and service decisions, leading to service and safety concerns and expensive and embarrassing long-term liabilities.
Spending and Investment. As a self-governing entity with control over our own tax revenues, the EIC believes that a Village of Edgemont would spend our dollars wisely to improve the community’s quality of life.
Can Edgemont sustain itself as a village?
Yes. For a comparable incorporated community, we can look just a few miles away to the self-governing Village of Hastings, also situated in Greenburgh.
The population and land area of Hastings are similar to Edgemont’s. Further, had Edgemont incorporated in 2024, our property tax revenues at current Town tax rates and assessments would have exceeded $15.3 million. That amount is comfortably higher than the $12.2 million collected by Hastings.
At nearly $3 billion, the Village of Edgemont would have the highest taxable valuation of all 7 Greenburgh villages.