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Eastchester REVIEW THE

October 14, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 42 | www.eastchesterreview.com

Eastchester Fire District proposes $16.9M budget By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer

DEPAUL

DOES IT ALL Bronxville’s Brian DePaul fights off Rye Neck’s Gabe Ajram to get a pass away on Oct. 8. DePaul threw for five touchdowns and ran for two more scores in the Broncos’ 57-28 win over the Panthers. For coverage, see page 15. Photo/Mike Smith

State Senate race below expected financing levels By JAMES PERO Staff Writer Shattering early campaign perceptions, challenger for New York State senate Julie Killian, a Republican, has fallen well short of expected fundraising levels, according to a recent round of campaign finance disclosures. Data from the New York state Board of Elections shows that Killian’s fundraising efforts continue to trail her opponent George Latimer, a Democrat and two-time incumbent, $278,000 to Latimer’s $312,000. Already, Democrats have seized the opportunity to use Killian’s unexpectedly low fundraising efforts as an indictment on her campaign.

According to Democratic strategist Jake Dilemani, a consultant for Mercury, a firm that advises officials on the national, state and local levels, Killian is falling well below the levels needed to win the race. “Her lackluster fundraising makes it clear that she has failed to gain the support and confidence of Westchester voters,” Dilemani said. However, spokeswoman for Killian’s campaign, Jessica Proud, who pointed out that Killian’s campaign has outpaced Latimer in funds raised since July, said that the campaign continues to meet all of their expected hurdles. “We feel good about our [funds],” Proud said. “We will

have all the resources we need to run the competitive race we need and to win.” Despite the disparity, Killian’s campaign will still enjoy a distinct advantage in overall resources, due to $288,000 in loans coming out of Killian’s own pocket—funds which have allowed Killian to outspend her opponent by a margin of 4-1. According to a finance disclosure report released last week, Killian has already outspent Latimer $477,000 to $106,000 since July. While the majority of Killian’s expenditures have been focused on TV ads and consulting fees—totals which add up to about $313,000 and $77,000 respectively, and constitute more

than 80 percent of the campaign’s overall expenditures— the bulk of Latimer’s expenses have gone toward miscellaneous items; most notably, food, travel, totaling approximately $5,000, as well as two expenses of $30,000 in total for consulting. While expectations leaned FINANCING continued on page 11

The Eastchester Fire District proposed a $16.9 million budget for the 2017 fiscal year, and may vote on the final budget after a public hearing on Oct. 18. The budget includes a 2.3 percent property tax increase from the 2016 budget. Even with that increase, the district will stay within the state tax cap as it had increased taxes by less than 1 percent in the previous year. More than 70 percent of the proposed budget, $12.3 million, is allotted for salaries and various employee benefits. The department employs about 75 firefighters and officers, as well as a part-time secretary and a parttime treasurer. The district spent the same percentage on personnel in 2016, but $150,000—not including benefits—went to an assistant captain. That position was dissolved in August of this year. Ralph Stupple, who had served that role, is now a captain in the department. During fiscal year 2017, the department will also look to fill a newly created part-time fire district manager position. One of the central responsibilities of the manager would be purchasing, which Dennis Winter, chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, said is currently done by various officers and employees in the department. He added, “[The manager] would not have any fire-matic responsibilities. The uniformed members would not be reporting to him.” That manager would cost the district $50,000 for about 17 hours per week if the position is ever filled. “We would like to fill

it,” Winter told the Review. “The union, since our last board meeting, has started protesting that position.” Steven Ranellone, president of the Local 917 union, argued that the district manager would have similar roles to those of the assistant chief. “They’re just putting a different hat on the same position,” he said. Winter said employment costs are increasing due to wage increases and a 12 percent increase in contributions to the state retirement system. Those increases could make it harder for the district to remain under the tax cap in upcoming years. More funding could still go to firefighter pensions if an arbitrator rules in favor of the firefighters’ Local 917 union in their grievance against the fire district. The union’s grievance relates to allegedly unpaid or underpaid pensions, which could cost the district an additional $5.5 million lump sum or $7.2 million over time in unanticipated expenses. In preparation for this expense, the district has increased its contingency fund from $228,000 to 275,000. But Winter said that fund, even if depleted to cover the costs of the grievance, would be “a drop in the bucket,” compared to what they would owe and maintained his position that the district would have to cut at least a dozen jobs to make room in the budget to cover the cost of the grievance. Ranellone said the district should look at other funding sources to settle the grievance before cutting jobs. “Some kind of impact study should be done BUDGET continued on page 11