In March 2021, Chaim Rose was elected trustee of the Village of Chestnut Ridge. Shortly thereafter, for the first time ever taxes were raised 8% in one year. About a year later Avrohom Fromovitz, CPA, was appointed a trustee as well.

Soon after, in 2023, taxes were raised by an additional 45%.

In 2020 property taxes were $12.06 per $1,000.00 of assessed value. By 2025 property taxes were levied at a rate of $23.10 per $1,000.00 of assessed value, a 91% increase in just 5 years. To put things in perspective in the entire 5-year period from 2014 to 2019 property taxes increased by just 9% (from $10.54 to $11.48 per $1,000.00 of assessed value).

While burdening homeowners with dramatically increased property taxes, Fromovitz and Rose quadrupled their salaries, raising village employee payroll costs by several hundred thousand dollars. This may not sound like much, but Chestnut Ridge is a small village with a very small tax base. Small villages generally pay very low salaries. Rose raised his salary from $6,000.00 to $50,000.00 in a few years.

In 2024 after taxes had risen 71% from 2021 the village put out a misleading letter which blamed the dramatic tax increases on the rising cost of waste management, while failing to mention the village’s ballooning payroll costs caused by Fromovitz and Rose’s self-serving raises.

In reward for their prudent management, the leaders of Chestnut Ridge wholeheartedly endorsed Rose and Fromovitz, CPA, for reelection. Their support effectively prevented any serious challenge to Fromovitz or Rose.

After consolidating power Rose and Fromovitz continue to find new ways to enrich themselves at the expense of homeowners. Last month Fromovitz and Rose voted to provide themselves with free health insurance paid for by already struggling Chestnut Ridge taxpayers, which will undoubtedly lead to further tax increases. To add insult to injury, the law awards trustees with health insurance for life after 7 years, which  means that every time the village gets a new trustee who stays in office for the typical 2 terms, the village will be left with a legacy cost of a lifetime insurance policy.

To put things in perspective, Fromovitz is about 39 years old. If he takes this plan until 85 that means a bill to the taxpayers of well over one million dollars even before adjusting for inflation. For just one trustee.

“Nice work if you can get it.”

Avi Yankelewitz, Esq. The writer can be reached at avi@yankelewitzlaw.com