Tax Fight

A property tax fight has been settled. The Orangetown Town Board has decided to settle for one million dollars rather than gamble and fight a 19 million dollar lawsuit filed by American Home Products for back taxes. The company took over the Lederele Laboratory campus in Pearl River and has been contesting its tax assessment since 1989. If the company's lawsuit in State Supreme Court was successful, Orangetown would have had to repay 19 million dollars. The town budget for this year is just 34-point-four million dollars. The settlement is expected to raise the average town property tax bill 44 dollars a year for the next three years, and 22 dollars a year for the next five years. The Nanuet School District, which also is being sued for back taxes says it will take it's chances in court. The school district is being sued for 46 million dollars in back taxes. The district's budget for the year is just 28 million.