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$114 Million Shortfall, Astorino Says. Vows No New Taxes, no tax increase, cuts
WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Office of the County Executive. October 5, 2011:
In a preliminary view of Westchester’s 2012 finances, County Executive Robert P. Astorino said today that the county was facing a $114 million budget shortfall next year and that he planned to close the gap without raising taxes by cutting spending, instituting a one-week furlough and having union workers start contributing toward their health insurance as a trade off to avoid approximately 250 layoffs.
“A tax increase is off the table,” said Astorino. “With Westchester residents already paying the highest property taxes in the
Expenses in next year’s budget are currently projected to increase by 5 percent to $1.802 billion. In contrast, revenues are projected to be up just 1 percent, coming in at $1.688 billion and leaving a gap of $114 million. By law, Astorino must present a plan for a balanced budget to the Board of Legislators by Nov. 15.
To balance the budget, Astorino outlined the following initiatives.
· Recurring savings: $52 million. All department heads have been asked to reduce their respective budgets between 10 and 20 percent. Details of the specific plans are still being finalized. Every department and program is being scrutinized, but the county’s safety net will remain in place. “The budget will not be balanced on the backs of the county’s most needy,” Astorino said. “While we expect to find savings in all departments, including the Department of Social Services, it appears likely that spending in DSS for 2012 will come in about the same as 2011.”
· One-time savings: $39 million. These savings include lower interest rates on county bonds, lower retirement costs because of last year’s 10 percent workforce reduction and lower insurance claims in 2011. Any money taken from the county’s fund balance or so-called “rainy day fund” would also be part of this category. The money here is limited because the fund balance is now approaching 5 percent of operating expenses. Dipping close to or below that level could jeopardize the county’s triple A bond ratings, which in turn could increase its borrowing costs. “Over my objections, the Board of Legislators took more out of the fund balance for the 2011 budget than I thought was prudent,” Astorino said. “The consequence is that there is less money available for next year. This isn’t alarmist. It is an economic fact that we will have to manage the fund balance carefully this year.”
· Jobs for savings: $23 million. The money here would come from a one week furlough ($4 million) and contributions by union employees to the cost of their health insurance ($19 million) or approximately 250 layoffs.
Astorino said he hoped to keep layoffs to a minimum, but he needed the help of the county’s unions. Saying the time had come for union members to start contributing toward their healthcare benefits, he made the following case:
· The county’s non-union employees already contribute toward their healthcare insurance, as do almost all public and private sector employees in the
· The healthcare contribution the county is seeking is the same one proposed by Governor Cuomo and agreed to by the state Civil Service Employees Association. The CSEA is the county’s largest union.
· The after-tax cost to a typical employee would be $16.75 a week for individual coverage and $85.50 a week for family coverage.
· The wages earned by county employees, as a group, are higher than their private sector and fellow public sector counterparts working in
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Astorino will host a town hall style meeting with county employees tonight at 5:30 p.m. at the
The biggest challenge in balancing the budget, Astorino said, was that many large expenses such as labor, pension and Medicaid have crushing automatic cost increases built into them. For example,
“On January 1, the cost of government automatically goes up each year,” said Astorino. “Balancing the budget is like Sisyphus endlessly trying to push the boulder up the hill. Despite all we’ve accomplished, it is hard to make any real progress. That is why we need to make structural reforms like having all employees pay for healthcare and pushing
This year, the cost of state unfunded mandates to county taxpayers was $416.5 million. Astorino said
“I support the legislation calling for
County property taxes account for about 15 to 20 percent of a property tax bills. The remainder is levied by school districts, local governments and special districts. For 2011, the county government share of property taxes was reduced by 2 percent. Astorino announced earlier this year he would not raise property taxes for 2012.
The
WAL MART FIGHTING FISH FOR SALE APPEAR IN POOR HEALTH.
WPCNR THE WHISTLEBLOWER. From a WPCNR Correspondent. October 5, 2011:
WPCNR received a call from an expert fish hobbyist who keeps Japenese fighting fish in their home. The Betta fancier was distressed by a visit to Wal Mart in downtown
Photograph White Plains Wal Mart betta fish October 1, 2011.
The correspondent noticed the Wal Mart Bettas had split fins, floated listlessly at the bottom of their containers which were filled with cloudy water. The split-fin condition, our correspondent says, is a sign the fish are in poor health, and is concerned that Wal Mart is not providing or selling healthy betta fish. The correspondent felt that the fish were living creatures that deserved an effort by the store at keeping them in a healthy environment.
Here is our correspondent’s report after revisiting the store Monday of this week:
I have just arrived home from another expedition to Wal Mart, only to find my concerns multiplied.
Yesterday (10/2) I went in to the store and spoke with a manager named
Her lack of knowledge was appalling. I simply stated to her, “Anyone can see those fish are sick and dying. You don’t need to be an expert to know it.” She promised me the fish would be tended to…but, as you can see from pictures I took tonight (Tuesday evening), that is simply not the case.
I will call Corporate again tomorrow and get the name of whomever I speak with. I still have two voice mail messages from the local store (in response to my call to Corporate) on Friday.
I am also sending you some pics of what healthy Betta fish look like–they are often called “Japanese Fighting Fish” and you’ll probably recognize them right away.
Notice how the same garbage was strewn on the shelves day after day. No one cares about these creatures…right in the shadow of City Hall, animal abuse exists!!!!
As an aside, if you visit Petco on
Our correspondent had a discussion with a “
“I spoke with “Laney” of Wal Mart’s Corporate Headquarters in Arkansas; she is the Supervisor of the Priority Customer Relations Line. When I informed her of my concerns for the fishes’ health and welfare and advised her that I had spoken with Beverly (an in-store Manager on Saturday), that I had placed calls to Corporate on Friday and nothing had been done, she stated, “We have 5 business days to address your concerns.”
I suggested to her that I would need to phone the local SPCA to report abuse of the fish and she stated, “That’s your prerogative,” and when I asked to speak with HER supervisor, she stated, “There is no one above me” and disconnected the call.”
Photograph of the Day
WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY By the WPCNR Roving Photographer. October 5, 2011:
The Roving Photographer lurked around the South End of White Plains, New York, USA, at twilight Tuesday evening and discovered the neighborhood near the controversial Ridgeway club property has grown signs. As you drive down Ridgeway “STOP FASNY NOW” and “FASNO” signs have sprung up around the property.
Fairway Drive and Ridgeway Last night.