Trump Asks For Massive Tax Cut For Westchester Golf Club; Neighbors Furious
BRIARCLIFF MANOR, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The game is on at Trump National Golf Club in Westchester County.
As CBS2's Lou Young reported, the 140-acre members-only golf playground bearing Donald Trump's name is pleading poverty and asking for a massive 90-percent tax cut. The neighbors are not amused.
"I'm not surprised," said Paul Sullivan of Briarcliff Manor. "He's always looking to get his little bit extra for himself, and a little bit less for everyone else."
Trump, who is known for talking about the "art of the deal," bought the club for $7.5 million and renovated it for $45 million. But his attorney filed papers claiming the club is now worth only $1.4 million because business is bad.
But even Trump's own attorney said it is a tactic to get taxes lowered maybe 10 or 20 percent.
"I think it's just blown out of the water because the name is Trump," said Trump attorney Jeffrey Rodner. "If it wasn't Trump, it wouldn't be on the front page of the paper."
But it is on the front page, and people are noticing. The people living closes to the golf course will be hit the hardest if the golf club gets any kind of tax relief.
"This is the Briarcliff School District, which is a small district, so a huge decrease in one property would create a larger increase in the others," said Ossining Taxes Receiver Gloria Fried.
Fried said if there were a reduction in property taxes for Trump's golf course, the neighbors would really feel it.
Property tax experts in Westchester told CBS2's Young the request for a reduction is just the beginning of the process.
Now, Trump's people have to present evidence to the Ossining Tax Assessor that the value of the property is actually shrinking and that business is not good. If the assessor doesn't agree, then they can go to court.
It is a process Trump's people went through five years ago when the club and the town made a deal to lower the assessment to its current $13 million level.
"It's worth more than 13 (million) too, as well -- that's what it's taxed at now, 13," said Briarcliff Manor resident Eric Levinson. "It's a world-class golf course. He says so himself."
The property is due for a reassessment in June.
