[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6093798,"mediaKeyId","2845353-60b69687b98bc099c5c843e3972df0d4","parentId",2845353,"title","Blue team says mandatory referendum to override state tax cap likely preempted; offers charter-based spending limits","audioSeconds",412,"startMs",2724000,"endMs",3136000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845353-60b69687b98bc099c5c843e3972df0d4&start=2724&end=3136","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845353-60b69687b98bc099c5c843e3972df0d4/thumbnail_2724000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6093798/Mount-Vernon/Westchester-County/New-York/Blue-team-says-mandatory-referendum-to-override-state-tax-cap-likely-preempted-offers-charter-based-spending-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093798-ee4a2769fd0f9fe78fe12e53e979c40b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173402&Signature=fUFkflgCBxjE42FHbr8sXEYNp4HkIXdC7RkIOkgzmfvyehv4Fhaon5jr496CBE-HJT-fyNtJUkNWWczyQuWq1obFe-MxbR6B1cRn0eXYjilHWrFJHtlCJQNZG07hSGtUHBZRCT4mCMqF7HGpeCC6RXkv-AIzfnG8evemewDTcmh6ZUTze7WTcojFEiYW0RI60jVoi9ela2DMuN6MTrMPc0sVsEkX5yO37LJmWAKUSwbcLqYh3Uh8g5iF-QtlGtTMk1fnW24YpU2NS6rseY8KZ9CipQcPfsKvKEUYfM2Fmhik8bfQuXViD9cCd2BG4trZj8yAnR2hou60RJGEP5RqWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CMVNY TV","date","2025-03-05T00:00:00Z","article","The commission’s “blue team” presented a report March 5 concluding a charter amendment requiring a mandatory citywide referendum to exceed New York’s tax cap would likely conflict with state law and therefore be preempted.

“The proposed referendum requirement would likely be preempted because New York State Tax Cap Override Process, GML 3‑c establishes a uniform comprehensive framework,” the blue team presenter read to the commission, concluding that a local charter requiring a referendum on tax‑cap overrides would create “a direct conflict rather than a permissible restriction.” The presentation also cited a distinction in state law that explicitly allows school districts, but not municipalities, to require voter approval to exceed a tax cap (transcript reference to Education Law 2023‑a as cited by the presenter).

The blue team gave context from recent city budgets: the presenter summarized the 2024 adopted budget by saying the city had “expenses of approximately a hundred and $50,000,000 versus revenue of $76,000,000, leaving a tax levy of $73,000,000 … or a 7.71% tax increase.” The report framed the city’s fiscal challenge as heavy reliance on property tax and recurring overrides of the cap without apparent offsetting expense reductions.

Because a mandatory‑referendum amendment appears legally vulnerable, the blue team proposed charter provisions intended to restrain discretionary spending and improve fiscal accountability instead of imposing a referendum requirement. Recommendations the team read into the record included: prohibiting discretionary pay increases for appointed positions in any year the city exceeds the state cap; limiting salary increases to no more than the rate of inflation; and limiting non‑critical spending such as travel and entertainment in years the tax cap is exceeded.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about how limits would be defined and enforced. One commissioner suggested avoiding hard numbers in charter language (for example, referencing compliance “with the state tax cap” rather than embedding a percent figure that could change). Another asked how pay‑catch‑up for long‑tenured employees who had not received raises would be treated; the presenter described common human‑resources mechanisms such as salary ranges and midpoints but did not provide a full implementation plan.

The transcript contains discussion of enforcement and practicality but does not record a formal commission vote adopting or rejecting the blue team recommendations. Commissioners and staff also suggested seeking legal counsel and consulting government finance best practices before finalizing ballot language.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mount Vernon Charter Revision Commission Meeting | March 5,2025","oneSentenceSummary","A commission finance subcommittee told Mount Vernon commissioners March 5 that a charter amendment requiring a mandatory city referendum to exceed New York’s tax cap would likely be preempted by state law, and offered alternative charter changes to limit discretionary pay and spending.","taxTitle","Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York","taxId",12530,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6093793,"Purple team outlines three ballot initiatives: council‑manager government, appointed finance chief, hybrid ward council",1066,3643000,4709000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845353-60b69687b98bc099c5c843e3972df0d4&start=3643&end=4709","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845353-60b69687b98bc099c5c843e3972df0d4/thumbnail_3643000.jpg","/articles/6093793/Mount-Vernon/Westchester-County/New-York/Purple-team-outlines-three-ballot-initiatives-councilmanager-government-appointed-finance-chief-hybrid-ward-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093793-ea909cbbb74eaa0ea4330639f0e2d45e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173402&Signature=CtGscl8C6s-1y~U8FxtYsGcADoRgDo6HBuksVPJL46sigLwLYt~jd2i8jAJ5ZuqTg7wI7hrM-LSX~Yoa-k2m22eSAlTTF88SFt8qqzcrcs06psiQI8Asi2UTAKtP0L7H4TbpjNUofiCWBOpiOe1y6lNmioCBMnBkESmiJIY4KpE58dqIN0e35xJZLZ-B38Y5HnCgiPp0Us0ERQELrzAKMhoF4QSWEsspM8Qwi2o4eDV2YDRWaHbIEzDGYkCX7NcsegNOesh-udmypsZ1yekJA7uMWydwlnRLLkBpAkfk~Knso2BlrTBPziv5K0F4jnCSZQrVb~Hp5BDOo5U-ovEKJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The governance subcommittee presented three linked ballot initiatives March 5 that would reshape Mount Vernon government if voters approve them: (1) move from a mayor‑council to a council‑manager form of government; (2) replace the elected comptroller with an appointed finance professional; and (3) adopt a hybrid council election model (four ward members plus at‑large seats).

The team read draft ballot language for each proposal. On the council‑manager question Dolores Loops read the ballot text: “Shall the City of Mount Vernon, New York adopt a change to its current form of government by transitioning from a mayor council system to a city manager council system?” The presentation said the mayor would remain separately elected but shift from executive to ceremonial and policy roles while a professionally trained city manager would handle day‑to‑day administration. The team proposed an effective date tied to the current mayor’s term (the presenter read an effective date of January 2028).

For the comptroller change the purple team proposed eliminating the elected office and creating an appointed finance professional subject to appointment by the mayor with council approval in a mayor‑council system or by the city manager under a council‑manager system. The presentation described persistent local financial problems—delayed audits, budget discrepancies and weak financial controls—and argued that a hired finance professional with public‑finance credentials (for example, CPA or GFOA‑aligned experience) would improve fiscal oversight. The presenter read language that would make the change effective upon the expiration of the elected comptroller’s term (the transcript reads that date as “January 2030”).

The third proposal would replace Mount Vernon’s all‑at‑large council with a hybrid model: four ward representatives and one (or two, if a council‑manager system is adopted) at‑large seats; the mayor would be a separately elected at‑large member who also presides over council meetings but would have no administrative duties under a city‑manager system. The purple team argued the hybrid model would improve local representation, lower campaign costs for district candidates, and reduce the risk of geographic under‑representation.

The presentation cited outside sources and examples, including the National Civic League’s model city charter, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), and referenced a December 2024 U.S. Attorney’s Office/Department of Justice report that the presenter characterized as finding municipal dysfunction contributing to failures in police oversight and basic services. “The police department’s lack of training, supervision, and accountability systems [was] rooted in a long history of municipal dysfunction,” the presenter read from that federal report.

Commissioners asked detailed implementation questions: who would appoint the new finance chief and whether the council manager and comptroller transitions would overlap, how wards would be drawn and who would appoint a ward‑drawing commission, and whether appointment would include advice and consent by the council (one commissioner noted the draft should explicitly include council advice and consent for appointments). The purple team said the ward commission would be appointed and work within a timeline spelled out in the proposed charter language and that additional materials—research, precedent cities and a draft charter using the National Civic League model—would be distributed to the full commission for review.

The transcript shows no final vote adopting the purple team’s recommendations; commissioners asked for corrected drafts, legal review and additional precedent research before the March 19 meeting.","The governance subcommittee proposed three coordinated ballot initiatives: shift to a council‑manager government, replace the elected comptroller with an appointed finance professional, and adopt a hybrid ward/at‑large city council model.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6093803,"Charter commission debates two-step voting plan for March 19 ballot decisions",560,240000,800000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845353-60b69687b98bc099c5c843e3972df0d4&start=240&end=800","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845353-60b69687b98bc099c5c843e3972df0d4/thumbnail_240000.jpg","/articles/6093803/Mount-Vernon/Westchester-County/New-York/Charter-commission-debates-two-step-voting-plan-for-March-19-ballot-decisions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093803-27a01a84651e9f3cd2bd142186de776f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173402&Signature=nXG6ePiciwsDrZGszzUPT6RXReGJrp2ORD4NA3MQC9eDB82~Romwoq5yzRysJsIUJl~yO0obdnxUoN9KisxmDW7q4WwVS~DTt2NzOC2tmy2InLyr~vPg0ofNn394wT0hYB9q3NWb97OdSsVCboF1ueWWr~quDszYNXbyhKD10tCtsFCUc6TjvBPQ6o8-omDHEyFQygNbqx6T2znptOMQ-QvssRONZNgUt3XavsixMYMrgQLkEAFKhoBDROClj~of9ZBFZXQSOf8WgLcbWs3ZHc5QREv~mavW-BMK7yPa2PrO0GTrKgHT0OACTMxG-AoXZ~s~m~4VWvoZUCvFCfFSlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mount Vernon Charter Review Commission on March 5 read a proposed voting process into the record for items to be considered for the March 19 ballot and discussed whether to use a two-step voting approach.

The commission’s formal reading described procedures for March 19 that include 3-minute subcommittee presentations, a public-comment period with two minutes per speaker, and a roll-call vote conducted in alphabetical order with the chair voting last. The reading stated that an initiative “will be approved if it receives more yes than no votes from the commission members present” and that voting records will be made public.

The discussion that followed centered on a proposal from Commissioner Anitra Hadley to hold two votes: an initial vote on March 19 to identify items the commission has consensus to research further, and a later final vote after the commission completes legal review, brings in experts, and holds public hearings. “My amendment was that we just have two votes,” Anitra Hadley said, describing the first vote as a way to mark consensus and the second as the final approval after more study.

Other commissioners argued both for and against the two-step approach. Supporters said a split vote would allow time for legal review and public hearings. Opponents said the commission has spent nearly a year on this process and that delaying a final decision risks prolonging work indefinitely and increasing legal and consultant costs. One commissioner noted the commission could still address issues discovered after March 19 and said, “If something huge comes up after that, yeah, we can talk about it again.”

Several commissioners and staff raised practical concerns about the cost and efficiency of paying attorneys to draft full ballot language in advance for items that the commission might later reject. Commissioner Brian Dwyer said he had contacted potential counsel and offered to share contact details with the commission if members wanted legal assistance before the vote.

The transcript records an extended back-and-forth but does not record a formal motion or roll-call vote on Anitra Hadley’s two-step proposal. Commissioners repeatedly emphasized that March 19 is the scheduled deadline for decisions but also said that further research, public hearings and legal review could continue after that date depending on circumstances.

The commission also discussed meeting management rules, public outreach and how to ensure broad participation in advance of March 19, including translating materials and posting the written voting procedure for members and the public.","Members of the Mount Vernon Charter Review Commission read a formal voting procedure into the record and debated an amendment proposing a two-step vote — an initial selection of items on March 19 followed by a final vote after legal review and public hearings. No formal commission vote on the amendment is recorded in the transcript.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Blue team says mandatory referendum to override state tax cap likely preempted; offers charter-based spending limits

Purple team outlines three ballot initiatives: council‑manager government, appointed finance chief, hybrid ward council

Charter commission debates two-step voting plan for March 19 ballot decisions