THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

Superintendent Will Not Commit to Present Budget Cuts. Mediation Starts

Posted on December 23, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. December 23, 2008: . Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors reported to WPCNR Monday that the district was continuing to look at and monitor school spending, but would not commit to cuts in school spending the last six months of the current budget year, the second half beginning January 1. Connors said the district would continue to monitor and look at the budget, but would not commit to wage freezes for management, wage cuts or expense cuts.

Outgoing Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors

Connors reported to WPCNR the school negotiations team and the White Plains Teachers Association last Thursday afternoon met separately with the New York State Public Employers Relations Board-appointed mediator, Karen Kenny in the first of three mediation sessions intended to break the impasse in salary and benefits negotiations that finds the city teachers working without a contract. Connors said the second meeting would take place in January, but did not have the date readily available.

Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors told WPCNR the next session would be held sometime in January, but could not remember if the date was before or after the first Community Forum on the budget, January 15.

Wen asked if the district was going to attempt to cut spending the last six months of the current fiscal year (due to possible school aid cuts and a minimum 7% increase to maintain the district current rate of spending) he said wage freezes or cuts on administrative personnel were difficult due to existing contracts with managers and administrators, but left open the possibility of some spending reductions somewhere, without specifying where they might occur. He said the district would continue to watch the budget. He said school energy costs had gone up because of the colder weather.

Connors, describing the mediation talks last Thursday afternoon, said “We met, both sides with the mediator. She certainly will make clear what each side is asking, ask questions, and help bring the parties together. “

WPCNR asked if he anticipated a settlement before the 2009-2010 budget is formed , Connors said “I hope we’re successful.”

WPCNR asked if there was an anticipated amount figured for the 2009-2010 budget for salaries, and Connors said it depended on settling the new contract with the teachers. Asked if he’d be freezing wages for management, principals, Assistant Superintendents and managers in anticipation of revenue shortfalls from reduced assessments and state aid, Connors said “There are things we can’t do in a vacuum without talking and negotiating with the parties involved. They have contracts.”

WPCNR wanted to know if there would spending cuts in the third quarter of the present school budget, in light of promised cuts in state aid. Connors would not commit to cutting the present spending, saying “We’re continuing to look at and manage our money well.”

Raises added to Longevity Increases?

Connors said the current step raises in the expired teachers contract continue to guide teachers’ pay in the current 2008-2009 year. Asked if any salary increases would be added on top of those step raises, Connors said that the new contract would guide that, without saying whether step levels (amounting to an automatic 2% salary increase for each year a teacher has been in service were under negotiation. Connors said salary and benefits were under discussion.

Patterson Budget Reforms Empire Zone Program, Aid to Cities

Posted on December 23, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From Governor Patterson’s Press Office. December 23, 2008: The new 2009-2010 Budget submitted by Governor Patterson attempts to bring new accountability towards companies participating in the Empire Zone program. Here, from the Governor’s press team is the news release describing the new procedures designed to make the program accountable:

Governor David A. Paterson’s Executive Budget fundamentally reforms the Empire Zone program, putting in place rigorous standards to ensure that the State’s investment of tax incentives produces results and spurs economic development.

“This budget fundamentally reforms an Empire Zone program that is simply not getting the job done,” said Governor Paterson. “We will force each company that receives these benefits to pass rigorous standards and prove that they are keeping up their end of the bargain. And if they fail to do so, they will be removed from the program. In a time of unprecedented fiscal difficulty, we cannot waste money on tax breaks for companies that fail to produce results. Just like any business, the State must demand a return on its investment.”

The Empire Zone program provides tax benefits to businesses for a ten-year period in return for creating jobs and investing in New York. In 2008, the Empire State Development Corporation put in place regulations that require all new program participants to demonstrate that they are producing at least $20 in actual investment and wages for every $1 in State tax incentives. Participants certified from 2005 to 2008 had to meet a 15:1 benefit/cost standard, and those certified prior to 2005 did not have to meet any set benefit-cost standard.

The Executive Budget proposal would require all Empire Zone program participants to meet the 20:1 benefit-cost standard. Only those that meet or exceed this standard will remain in the program.

Certain industry sectors such as utilities, retail, and real estate, which are engaged in activities that make them unlikely to relocate outside of the state, would also be excluded from applying for certification in the future. Current program participants from these sectors that meet or exceed the 20:1 standard would be allowed to continue in the program.

Empire Zone spending was previously projected to total $610 million in 2009-10. After these reforms, total tax expenditures for the program will be $338 million, a decline of $272 million in 2009-10. Savings will grow to $310 million when fully annualized. The new Empire Zone program will continue until its sunset date of June 30, 2011.

The Executive Budget recognizes the need to provide resources to invest in job creation, especially in our upstate communities. When fully effective, $100 million of savings from these Empire Zone reforms will become available for reinvestment through the following initiatives:

A new $50 million grant program known as the New York Growth, Achievement and Investment Strategy (GAINS) Fund, which will be targeted to job creation in strategic industries such as manufacturing, financial services, agri-business, high technology, and biotechnology;
Research and development tax credits totaling $50 million, including the expansion of a current benefit for qualified emerging technology companies (QETC), as a well as new R&D program. The new research and development credit will allow businesses that invest in innovation in New York, either at their own facilities or in partnership with colleges and universities in the state, to recoup a portion of their costs.

Community Forum on the New School Budget: January 15.

Posted on December 22, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From City School District. December 22, 2008: The first Community Forum on the 2009-2010 School Budget, predicted by the television show White Plains Week to exceed $200 Million has been scheduled for January 15 at White Plains High School at 7:30 P.M.

The new Community Forum format replaces the traditional discussion and evaluation of the budget by the Annual Budget Committee of some thirty persons, many of whom did not vary from year to year, who often commented on the passability and acceptability of budget decisions. This year, considering budget pressures, the Superintendent of Schools, Timothy P. Connors and the District Budget Committee decided to involve the entire community of White Plains in discussion of budget pressures.

Currently the School District and the White Plains Teachers now working without a contract, are in mediation talks of the amount of raise, supervised by the New York State Public Employers Relations Board, expected at this point to continue indefinitely. The present school budget is $284.4 Million, and if salaries and expenses continue at the same pace as last year, the budget would approach $197 Million, if White Plains assessments stayed the same.

County Executive Supports Governor Patterson’s Budget Cuts

Posted on December 22, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. December 22, 2008: Westchester County Executive Andy Spano praised Governor Paterson’s leadership as “bold, direct and honest,” as the Governor outlined his efforts to control spending as New York faces its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

“Every elected official should be standing shoulder to shoulder with Governor Paterson. He has outlined a bold plan to control state spending,” Spano said. “He has made difficult decisions in his efforts to secure a brighter future for all New Yorkers. He has not shied away from the task to get New York on a sound financial footing and neither should the officials who will now be reviewing his budget.

“Governor Paterson’s budget calls for everyone to buy in. It calls for shared sacrifice and shared pain, because that is the only way to move New York ahead. The door is open to smart decision-making, as the Governor alluded to.” Spano said.

“Regardless of political party, regardless of special interests, all elected officials and advocates must support the governor and work with him as he tries to bring New York State back to its former glory. This is no time for partisanship. We must all work together to benefit the residents of New York for the future of our great state.”