Latimer said despite shortfall, he is not touching the “rainy day” money
WHITE PLAINS – The proposed 2019 Westchester County budget comes in at $1.94 billion, up $98 million from the 2018 spending plan, but one third of that increase is as a result of the Raise the Age legislation passed in Albany, aimed at less harsh punishment for teens who commit less serious crimes.
County Executive George Latimer said the budget includes a $39 million shortfall but will not use any of the “rainy day” general fund balance.
The budget comes in under the state-mandated tax cap, he said.
“The percentage of the cap is that it is a two percent cap and that was the way it was originally presented, but there is a formula that goes with it and because of past practice in the county where we did not raise property taxes, that formula allows us to the level of 5.7 percent. That is what is allowable. This budget has a property tax levy of two percent.”
Latimer said the $39 million increase in spending for the new juvenile legislation will be reimbursed by the state during its first year of implementation.
Of the remaining $60 million cash shortfall, he wants to make up $22 million by shifting the County Center parking lot ownership from the county to the county Local Development Corporation; bond $8.5 million to cover tax certioraris, use $8 million of the health fund surplus; save an estimated $7 million in the vacancy factor including leave positions open for a period of time when the current workers retire as well as other one-shot revenue sources.
Latimer said the spending plan is his first step in righting the county financial ship, which in recent years has been facing rough waters including bond rating agency downgrades.
