The Westchester Brief | 07.09.26: The 2% Tax Cap Trap

Send us Fan MailThe 2% property-tax cap is the most misunderstood rule in Westchester County, the highest-taxed county in America. It limits how much a town or school district can raise in total, not what any single homeowner pays. This episode explains the reassessment trap: how, in towns that have gone 10 to 20-plus years without a revaluation, individual assessments can jump 50% to 100% in a single "capped" year, and what to do before your notice arrives.In This Episode:(0:00) The promise every homeowner has heard, and why it's wrong(0:40) What the 2% cap actually caps: the levy, not your bill(1:45) The reassessment trap and the reval "time bomb" in long-un-revalued towns(3:15) What to do: know your town's last reval, check comparables, grieve, and the STAR credit-only change(4:30) Quick hit: Pleasantville Music Festival returns Saturday, July 11Sources:AppealDesk, "New York Property Tax Increases 2026: 2% Cap, STAR & More"NY State Department of Taxation and Finance, STAR and assessment resourcesEnjoying the Brief? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or share the show with a neighbor who owns a home.Support the showI Live Here Westchester is a production of I Live Here Media.We spotlight the voices, visionaries, and stories that make Westchester County more than just a place to live—it’s a place to belong.Have a guest suggestion or want to partner with us?Email: [email protected]: www.iliveheremedia.comFollow us on Instagram: @iliveheremediaSubscribe, rate, and share to support local storytelling.