“Greater Haverstraw Happenings” began as a monthly newsletter, highlighting area businesses, listing events and encouraging residents to support local stores and restaurants. Three years after its creator, Luanne Konopko, sent out her first issue, the graphic designer closed shop, the apparent victim of taxing foresight that proved faulty.
But it might be time to rewrite that obituary, with the defunct publication emerging from its shroud in the form of a new business association called the Northern Rockland Business Alliance (NRBA).
“People really seemed to enjoy it, but advertisers could not afford to advertise,” Konopko said, especially after Mirant Bowline Plant emerged from bankruptcy in 2006 and the North Rockland School District found itself owing the energy supplier $224 million in overpaid taxes.
Both Haverstraw and Stony Point, preparing for the possibility Mirant might prevail in its own revaluation fight, revalued properties, bringing them up to a 100 percent assessment. Konopko (and her neighbors) felt the sting. She had been paying out of pocket to continue her community newsletter, but she couldn”™t afford to subsidize it any longer.
Arguing its assessment was too high, Mirant was revalued by court order, said Jim Johnston, the district”™s assistant superintendent for business. The cost to the municipalities and the school district was $224 million.
“The entire town of Haverstaw was reassessed at the same time ”¦ many businesses actually saw a decrease in their taxes,” Johnston said.
Conversely, however, homeowners were hit with a 100 percent increase in their school taxes when they were revalued, according to Michael Gamboli, director of finance for the town: “One woman was actually crying when she received her bill ”¦and we are going to see major increases again this year.”
The town”™s consultant, Larry Farbstein, predicted a 15 to 25 percent increase in taxes as a result of the Mirant decision and the new assessments. But the school district and town working together have proposed legislation, introduced by Sen. Tom Moharan and Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffe, that will keep the increase nearer to 7 percent for the upcoming school year”™s budget, said Johnston.
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Konopko said the formation of a business chamber of commerce in the northern Rockland area, one strictly dedicated to Stony Point and its immediate surroundings, will work to build local business and encourage people to shop local ”“ very local.
“We”™re not looking to compete with the Rockland Business Association or the Haverstraw chamber,” Konopko said. “We see our community needs to share our concerns on a more immediate, face-to-face level. We can dedicate our energies directly to our neighborhood.”
Konopko says the yearly dues in the nascent NRBA ”“ she”™s the founder ”“ are also more affordable for those hard-hit by the tax hike ”“ $75 for a business with 20 or fewer employers, $150 for businesses with 20 more; $50 for not-for-profits and $35 for individual residents.
Konopko also hopes she”™ll eventually resurrect Greater Haverstraw Happenings, but this time around it would be in the form of an on-line newsletter.
The NRBA”™s next meeting ”“ its third ”“ is scheduled at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 14, at the RHO cottage in Letchworth Village. Konopko can be reached at Geo.graphics@verizon.net or 942-4474.
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