No taxes, but there will be some pain, was the bottom line of Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino”™s first state of the county address.
He reiterated what he had said a few months earlier about a $166 million budget deficit for 2011 and repeated his pledge of no tax hikes.
“I was elected to stop spiraling tax hikes. I am committed to doing just that. In the fall, I will submit a budget to the board of legislators that is balanced and has a zero percent increase in the county tax levy, ” he said during his address Thursday night.
He placed the blame of the county”™s economic state on booming years and the prior county administration”™s saying “yes” to virtually any program or project that came its way. He cited increases to social services programs, health care costs for county employees, and the addition of a sixth county-run golf course.
“Times were good. No one was complaining. And one more thing:Â To a large degree, it was other people”™s money. Washington and Albany were offering free money in the form of grants and aid. How could we refuse?”
To immediately address some cost savings, Astorino suggested some “broad sacrifice,” including:
An incentive package plan to county workers who wish to voluntarily leave their jobs. He pegged cost savings between $6.8 million and $19 million a year, depending on the number of employees who take part.
A switch from a self-insured, third-party health insurance plan administered by POMCO to the New York State Health Insurance Plan. No specific savings, other than “millions” was cited.
A pay freeze, with savings estimated at $20.5 million.
Furloughs, with savings he said would amount to $1 million a day.
Five percent salary cuts, which could save $23.8 million, and $47.6 million, if salaries were reduced by 10 percent.
Astorino made mention of the economic disadvantage the county and state find themselves in concerning attracting and retaining business. He cited Starwood Hotels move from White Plains to Stamford as one example.
He said while the county”™s advantages include technology, transportation, a skilled work force and closeness to New York City, it also faces hurdles in the form of high taxes, overbearing regulations and “chronic governmental paralysis.”
