County board chair turns down company SUV

The chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators said he won”™t use a taxpayer-funded SUV to drive around the Golden Apple.

Michael Kaplowitz, a Somers Democrat who became chairman in January, is entitled to a county car due to his leadership role but he announced Thursday he”™d declined the perk. According to Kaplowitz, the chairman”™s SUV costs county taxpayers $3,500 per year in payments and an additional $2,000 a year in gas reimbursements.

The chairman said he was curbing board spending in several areas. Other cuts announced were the elimination of 50 percent of staff Blackberries, the layoff of the board”™s legal counsel, and the termination of the contracts for photography and news-clipping services.

Kaplowitz said in the announcement that he would continue seeking cost-savings measures in the operation of the board. “This is something Westchester families do around their kitchen tables every day, we will bring that same level of attention to our spending as well,” he said.