Westchester County Executive George Latimer has proposed a 2024 Operating Budget for the county that totals $2.4 billion and holds property taxes steady. While the budget does not propose a cut in the property tax levy as had been the case in recent budgets, it does not raise the tax, making this the fifth straight budget without a property tax increase. Latimer characterized the budget as “a testament to our commitment to the residents of Westchester County.”
On Oct. 17, Latimer had submitted a proposed capital budget for 2024 to the County Board of Legislators. It called for $473.7 million in appropriations that included just over $301 million for general county purposes including transportation, housing, environmental initiatives, parks and infrastructure. It also asked for $160 million for refuse, sewer and water spending.
“This budget continues to place particular emphasis on public safety and emergency preparedness, housing, health and mental health services, as well as environmental and economic development programs,” Latimer said. “There are no one-shots, borrowing for operating expenditures, or use of any fund balance.”
The budget proposes $25 million for environmental initiatives including $20 million to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure at county parking facilities and $5 million to support the installation of EV charging stations by various municipalities.
The budget contains $40 to $50 million that would be put into a flexible fund for supporting the development of new affordable housing. Another $50 million would go into a land acquisition fund to acquire property and pay for infrastructure to support new affordable housing developments.
Economic development, tourism and minority and women owned businesses would be supported with $7.9 million. The proposed operating budget includes $1.5 million to enhance downtown areas and support local businesses and communities, $300,000 for job training and a $3.7 million investment to support various continuing programs to help businesses and promote economic growth such as Launch 1000, Biosciences Accelerator and Element 46.
A new $975,000 program is slated to begin that would expand outpatient capacity at mental health clinics.
The proposed budget calls for adding a director of flood mitigation and resiliency to the county’s staff. It allocates $500,000 to cover the cost of consultants to deal with adding affordable housing and handling flood mitigation projects. It sets aside $7 million for a landlord and tenant assistance program to help local housing authorities take care of needed property repairs.
“We operate in Westchester County on a calendar year fiscal year, meaning that Jan. 1 begins our budget year as does the calendar year for all of us,” Latimer said. “The 2024 budget needs to be in place by New Year’s Day Jan. 1. This county government, regardless of who the county executive was, who populated the County Board of Legislators, has never failed to have an on-time budget and we never failed to have a balanced budget. As we deliver this budget to the Westchester County Board of Legislators they will then go through a deliberative process that will include public hearings and committee meetings. I believe they have established Monday Dec. 11 as the day for final action on the budget. I certainly expect changes in the budget that was presented today to show the will of the legislative body as they go through this process.”
