Eastchester REVIEW THE
November 16, 2018 | Vol. 6, Number 47 | www.eastchesterreview.com
County releases proposed 2019 operating budget
Hope’s Door hosted its 2018 Annual Fall Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 19. The luncheon, which is held each October during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, celebrated the success of participants in the Next Step Economic Empowerment Program. For more, see page 6. Photo courtesy Caitlin Hayles
County heads coalition on Penn Station Access project
In a letter to Amtrak Chairman Anthony Coscia, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, joined by 45 leaders in a bi-partisan fashion including Westchester’s House of Representatives delegation and the entire county Board of Legislators, requested Amtrak’s cooperation in moving the Penn Station Access project forward. This would provide a critical rail connection for Westchester to the west side of Manhattan and the East Bronx. “This project would significantly revitalize our region through its creation of a one-seat ride into Penn Station from Westchester for the first time ever,” Latimer said. “Not only would this save significant time and money for hard-working commuters, it would also alleviate congestion issues at Grand Central Terminal while providing flexibility to the
thousands who commute from the Bronx to Westchester each day.” This project is long overdue. The existing rail lines already exist and the MTA has even agreed to pick up some of the costs of rebuilding certain portions of the line infrastructure to get this project to the finish line. Amtrak has decided to request additional fees on top of this commitment, fees it does not collect from other commuter lines. Currently, MTA Capital Construction, MTACC, has a plan to build four new Metro-North Railroad stations in the East Bronx that would also service Westchester commuters by connecting the New Haven Line to Penn Station directly. To move forward with this vital project, Amtrak must sign a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU,
which is an agreement that aligns work schedules and scope and allows MTACC reasonable access to Amtrak-owned tracks and right-of-way. MTACC was prepared to bring the contract for preliminary design to its board in May, but this action has been delayed due to the lack of a negotiated MOU. The letter, signed by federal, state and local officials, goes on to say, “Our continued econom-
ic development relies on stronger public transportation options and we encourage Amtrak to be a partner in these ongoing efforts. We are calling on Amtrak to come to an agreement on the MOU and allow work to move forward on the Penn Station Access project. Our offices stand ready to assist in any way possible to ensure MTACC and Amtrak can quickly reach a mutually beneficial agreement.” (Submitted)
Delivering on his promise to move Westchester County forward, County Executive George Latimer released his first operating budget for 2019. The budget continues funding for vital services for county residents, while remaining within the state property tax cap and utilizing none of the county’s unrestricted general fund balance. “I am proud to present this budget to Westchester taxpayers and the Board of Legislators— my partner in responsible government,” Latimer said. “This year, my administration held more true public input sessions on this budget, and other county matters, than any executive had before. These sessions resulted in this budget. It is time to move Westchester forward together and plan not just for the now—but for the future.” In this budget, funds are allocated to keep all essential services for county residents, to pay all county employees the 2019 state minimum wage of $12 per hour, increase support for our daycare and not-for-profit service providers and implement the raising of the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18 years old. This is done with a modest 2 percent increase to the property tax levy— well below the 5.7 percent tax cap Westchester is afforded, according to an independent audit. The 2019 budget, for the first time in recent memory, projects the true cost of running county government for the year. Previous budgets, like the 2017 Westchester County Operating Budget had run a $32 million general fund operating deficit. For 2018, the projected general fund shortfall now stands at $39 million. This budget hole of $71 million is roughly a 50 percent reduction in the county’s rainy day fund. As noted by each of the three major rating agencies and the Office of the State Comptroller, continued reliance on these funds is not sustainable.
The 2019 budget includes a host of strong financial decisions aimed at restoring order to Westchester’s fiscal house, including: • A county hiring freeze· • Renegotiated contracts • $4M annual savings on Liberty Lines contract • New RFP for corrections healthcare • Improved risk assessment • Shared services implementation; • Reoccurring revenues like the NuEnergen “Demand Response” program • Collective bargaining stability; • CSEA contribution to health care • County space assessment/consolidation· • Streamlining • Capital Program implementation “This budget strikes a balance between providing the services all of the residents of Westchester expect and deserve, and keeping property taxes at a level they can afford,” Latimer said. “The modest increase included in the budget is within the state property tax cap, and acknowledges the hardship the federal government has imposed on the people of Westchester through the loss of the State and Local Tax, SALT, Deduction in the American Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.”Following today’s submission, the county Board of Legislators will now review the budget – including meetings with county departments in the board’s Committee on Budget and Appropriations. Following this review, the board will submit any additions or deletions to the budget, vote to move the budget out of committee for a final review and end with a vote by the full board. The final budget will then be sent to Latimer for his signature or veto. “I look forward to working with all of the members of the Board of Legislators to deliver a transparent and responsible 2019 Budget for the people of Westchester County,” he said. “Now is the time to focus on the future, on moving forward—together.” (Submitted)