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

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Board of Legislators. November 24, 2008: The Board of Legislators has released their analysis of two more key department budgets for 2009. Their comments:

Parks, Recreation & Conservation

The Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation maintains the county’s 50 parks and open space network of over 18,000 acres at an annual average cost of about $37 per resident. Though the department’s proposed 2009 operating budget of $55.26 million represents an increase over its 2008 budget of $53.49 million, the proposed 2009 tax levy of $17.9 million is less than the 2008 tax levy of $19.4 million. The department proposes a staff of 335 in 2009, one less than in 2008.

The proposed levy reduction is largely due to the introduction in 2009 of a new “Pay-One-Price” admission policy. Under the new policy, which will apply to the amusement area at Playland, revenues will cover all costs associated with the amusement park’s operation. The amusement park operation will no longer be subsidized by county taxpayers.

County Legislator José Alvarado, Budget & Appropriations Committee Chair, commented that

“the new admission policy addresses a longtime County Board request to reduce the amount of tax levy dollars needed to support Playland

County Legislator Ken Jenkins, Chair of the Government Operations Committee, noted that the County Board’s getting behind the Rye Playland Master Plan’s proposal which included removing third party concessions from running the rides and having the county purchase the rides instead has proven to be a prudent investment. He said he was also pleased with the overall results of a recently released safety audit by an independent consultant that indicated significant progress in instituting additional safety measures.  

“With rising attendance, an improved safety record and a restructured admission policy that will make the amusement park self-sufficient, county taxpayers are able to save about $3 million while continuing to enjoy this historic park and local treasure,” said Jenkins.

Jenkins said that Westchester’s parks, golf courses, hiking and biking trails and other recreational opportunities are an integral part of the county’s superior quality of life that attracts so many families to move to the area.  “Our investments in the Parks Department are quality of life investments that help to make this beautiful county the unique place it is,” said Jenkins.

Public Works Department

 The Public Works Department maintains and provides engineering services for repairs and rehabilitation of county roads, bridges and structures.  The department’s 2009 proposed operating budget of $85.36 million requests a tax levy of $6.55 million, approximately $1 million less than the

2008 levy.  Salaries and maintaining the court system each account for about 23% of the budget. 

As utility costs for all facilities account for about 29% of expenses, the department’s focus has been on conserving energy in recent years. Initiatives include energy audits, installing solar panels, lowering building thermostats during the winter and raising them during the summer, installing fluorescent bulbs, removing approximately 6,700 excess light bulbs, retrofitting several vans and trucks to use filtered vegetable oil as fuel; and, installing emission control devices on vehicles with diesel engines. About 45% of the current vehicle fleet is hybrid—the remaining non-hybrid vehicles will be replaced with hybrids as fund permit. The Commissioner said that the White Plains central heating plant and the Peekskill District Office Building will be added to the B5 biodiesel heating oil program. 

”This will be a challenging year as we move forward with capital projects,” said County Legislator Ken Jenkins Chairman of the Government Operations Committee which oversees the Public Works Department.  “We will continue to do what’s necessary to ensure the safety of the people using our roads, bridges and facilities in Westchester but will also be respecting economic realities which mean fewer contracts will be issued and fewer capital projects undertaken.”

 For more details on county department budgets, please visit the County Board’s Web site at www.westchesterlegislators.com.

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Board of Legislators. November 24, 2008: The Westchester County Board of Legislators today approved a contract between the Civil Service Employees Union (CSEA) and the county that covers a six-year period beginning January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2011. CSEA employees will receive a 3% per annum retroactive increase for 2006, 2007 and 2008.  There will be an increase of 3.25%, effective January 1, 2009; 4%, effective January 1, 1010; and 4%, effective January 1, 2011.

County Board Chair Bill Ryan (D-I-WF, White Plains) commented on the correlation between the quality of the county’s workforce and Westchester’s ranking as one of the most outstanding among the nation’s 3,000 counties.

“We appreciate the tremendous job our employees do handling all the county’s many functions,” said Ryan. “From taking care of our parks and recreation facilities, to caring for our county’s most vulnerable citizens, to ensuring the safety and security of our residents, county employees know their jobs and do them well and are the reason why the county runs as smoothly and as efficiently as it does.”   

“I am happy to see the contract finally get resolved, it’s been a long — too long— time coming,”  said County Legislator José Alvarado, Chair of the Budget & Appropriations Committee.  “I know we all appreciate the efforts of our workforce and we’re anxious to see that they finally get the cost of living increases they have earned.”   

Alvarado pointed out some cost saving measures that helped to offset the cost of the contract, particularly with regard to generic prescriptions and the requirement that new employees and their spouses complete a “Health Risk Assessment Survey.” By the terms of the contract, the failure of an employee and spouse  to complete the survey and hear out the suggestions of a health coach will mean they are not in compliance. An employee or spouse not in compliance will be required to contribute 20% of the cost of the plan until they are in compliance.

“Our employees have been patient and we appreciate that,” said County Legislator Ken Jenkins, Chair of the Government Operations Committee which has oversight responsibility for labor matters.  “I believe this is a fair agreement that balances our employees’ needs with the need of county government and taxpayers to control costs, especially in healthcare expenditures.”