Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino”™s proposed $1.7 billion county budget for 2014 would keep property taxes flat if approved by the county Board of Legislators.
The executive budget, likely to be altered or reshaped by the Democratic-led board, projects a 4 percent increase in annual sales tax revenue for the county to $398 million.
The budget maintains funding for Playland in the event the board does not approve an Astorino-approved management deal with nonprofit Sustainable Playland Inc. and does not cut Bee-Line bus service. Bus fares would not be increased if the executive”™s budget is approved.
“This budget shows once again that government ”“ just like the taxpayers who pay the bills must do ”“ can live within its means,” Astorino said.
To avoid a property tax increase, the county under Astorino’s plan would not tap into budget reserves but instead defer part of its anticipated $96 million in pension costs in 2014. Under a state plan, municipalities can essentially borrow from Albany for the cost of contributions to the state pension fund, then pay back the amount with 3 percent interest over a 10-year period.
Astorino took the same approach last year to present a budget with no tax increase, amid criticism from some who said that though the move would keep pension payments more stable in the short term, it amounted to long-term debt to meet immediate obligations.
Astorino, a Republican reelected this month to a second four-year term, held a press conference Friday announcing the budget and calling on the Civil Service Employees Association, one of the labor unions representing county workers, to agree to a new contract that would include larger employee contributions for health care premium costs.
County employees until recently did not contribute to their health care coverage. Seven of eight county employee unions and nonunion management now contribute to their plans. Employees in 2014 will pay $4 million of a projected $95 million health care bill for the county, according to the county executive”™s office.
Labor costs continue to consume a large share of the county budget. Astorino said the average salary of a county worker is $76,414, higher than the average Westchester private-sector salary of $65,185. In addition to salary, the county pays as much as $45,000 more per employee annually for fringe benefits such as health care, according to his administration .
“Our county workers do a terrific job,” Astorino said in a release announcing the budget. “The problem is they are very expensive. So together, labor and management sat down to work out contracts that are fair to our workers and fair to our taxpayers.”
Although the county tax levy will remain flat, the impact on individual tax bills can vary by municipality based on assessed property values and equalization rates. County taxes make up about 20 percent of a Westchester property owner’s  tax bill. School districts account for about 60 percent of property taxes.
Astorino also released a separate capital budget of $275 million, which includes infrastructure improvements and park renovations.
OK I think I made a mistake supporting Astorino over Bramson.
If Bramson had won, New Rochelle could’ve been done with him. Now Bramson’s all hell bent on jamming the ill conceived Echo Bay project down our throats.