THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE From the NYS Department of Taxation  & Finance. October 24, 2018:

The City of White Plains got back on track after a lackluster August sales spell, with sales tax dollars rebounding 12.3% in September. White Plains is down a slight ¾ of a per cent from the 2017 figures at this time. (The city fiscal year begins in July and runs through June of 2019).

Westchester County sales tax dollars increased ½% in September with the important fourth quarter holiday sales period starting. Through the first 9 months of 2018, Westchester County has earned  $408,569,137.

If the county matches its 2017 pace the next three months it will take in $136 Million, earning an all-time County Sales Tax “Handle” of $544 Million. Last year, the county earned $525.5 Million n sales taxes.

If the county resumes its 6% growth rate it has enjoyed through August the next three months that $544 Million could grow to $550 Million, giving the county enough surplus over last year ( when the county earned $525 Million) to cover the $15 Million hole in the budget from the county decision not to lease the Westchester county airport, and devote $10 Million more towards union settlements recently agreed by the County. (The deficit county auditors announced last spring placed the 2018 shortfall at $37 Million.)

The county itself is highly confident. In their midyear economic forecast in July, the county predicted a $555 Million sales tax revenue, even while downplaying the strong 6% growth rate.

The County Executive now faces the pleasant prospect of the sustained county sales tax growth (if it just matches last year in October, November and December) of having the deficit now down to $10 Million or less depending on free-spending  confident shoppers flooding the malls and the bars.

The  prospect of a property tax increase that is high enough to be fiscally responsible to the labor settlements while low enough to be politically correct with Westchester residents.

WPCNR STOP AND GO. From the New York State Department of Transportation Hudson Link. October 18, 2018 (EDITED):

The long-awaited ramp entrance cue system will begin to be installed late this fall, according to the Department of Transportion, Hudson Link anounced Thursday night.

The New York State Department of Transportation would like to familiarize Lower Hudson motorists with important changes across the I-287 corridor between Rockland and Westchester counties, including on the new Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. These changes include the following:

• Ramp meter signals will be installed on 13 interchanges along I-287, from Interchange 14A in Rockland County to Interchange 4 in Westchester County.
• The three Westchester ramp meters will be installed by the end of October 2018 and the remaining ramp meters will be installed in 2019 and 2020.
• Ramp meters are red/green traffic signals regulating the flow of vehicles from local access ramps entering I-287 to manage roadway congestion.
• New York State Police will enforce traffic rules at these meters; drivers who fail to stop at a red ramp meter light can be fined the equivalent of a regular traffic signal violation.
• There will be dedicated bus lanes available on the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, one in each direction.
• Bus riders can save up to five minutes on typical weekday commutes and even greater travel time savings when there are major traffic incidents.
• Proper use of these bus lanes will be enforced by New York State Police.
• The eastbound bus lane will be available for use with the launch of the new Hudson Link transit service in late October 2018.
• The westbound bus lane will be available next year with the completion of the bicycle / pedestrian path.