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THE BUDGET APPROVAL SCENE LAST NIGHT AT THE COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBERS IN DOWNTOWN WHITE PLAINS NY USA. THE LIVELY 1-HOUR MEETING MAY BE SEEN HERE COMPLETE WITH THE LIVELY FEISTY INTERCHANGES OF MAYOR, COUNCILPERSONS AT

http://whiteplainsny.swagit.com/play/05302018-690

(Simply copy and paste the above url into your browser and Hit Go to see the entire council meeting last night)

WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. May 31, 2018 UPDATED, 12:10 PM EDT:

The Common Council approved a $193.9 Million Budget last night by a vote of 5-2, with Mayor Tom Roach, Councilpersons John Kirkpatrick, Nadine Hunt-Robinson, Jason Brasch, and John Martin voting to approve. Councilpersons Dennis Krolian and Milagros Lecuona voted against the proposal.

The Budget for 2018-19 increases $9 Million from $189 Million this year to $193.9 Million this year. The property tax increases 2.9%, from $205.42 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to $211.36 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Mayor Tom Roach in a hard-hitting, confident rousing defense of the budget said the increases amounts to 81 cents a month for the average assessed home in White Plains ($9.72 a year).

The budget in the ordinance approvals following the approval of the budget, approved a geographically sensitive parking policy, giving the city the power to price outlaying city parking lots away from the downtown, more leniently than the city garages in the center of town. The geographic areas have yet to be defined. Though it is not clear whether garages along Main Street will go up in price slightly, the Mayor said lots such as Waller and Maple would allow residents to park for more than one hour unlimited for $1.25. Currently there is, WPCNR believes a 1 hour limit.

Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona told WPCNR the policy is the beginning of implementing a system now in use in San Francisco where parking in the center of the downtown is more expensive than parking in the outskirts of the city limits. The city of Cincinnati also has implemented such a policy.

Another parking change was approved as part of the budget. An issue that new Councilman Justin Brasch campaigned on was put into effect. Parking will now be free in the City of White Plains on 6 National Holidays: July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Memorial Day.

Not Free Parking on Holidays in city garages or city lots.

The legislation approving the “Free Parking” on holidays, though only says parking is free at on-street meters. This means that if you go to White Plains on July 4 a Wednesday, you can park at meters on the street Free, but you have to pay for parking in the city parking lots and garages.

Raises of 2% were approved for Commissioners and  the Mayor, and secretaries and staff of some departments, including the Mayor’s Office.