WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

Hits: 115

 WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. (EDITED) November 10, 2014:

For the fifth consecutive year, County Executive Robert P. Astorino has proposed a budget that delivers services without raising the tax levy.

Astorino’s $1.76 billion proposed budget for 2015 keeps spending below the rate of inflation, maintains staffing, and holds the line on taxes in part through $5 million in savings realized from having seven of the county’s eight unions contribute to their health care for the first time.

“This is a disciplined budget that strikes a smart and fair balance between the demand for county services and our ability to pay for them,” said Astorino.  “There are elements of this budget that continue to place huge burdens on county taxpayers, such as nine unfunded state mandates that add up to 83 cents of every dollar raised by county property taxes. But with a sharp eye on ensuring that every dollar budgeted delivers value, our departments have put forth spending plans that are both cost effective and responsive to the needs of all of our residents.”

John Ravitz Executive Vice President of the Westchester Business Council praised the budget:

“In delivering a sound fiscal plan that does not increase the tax levy nor raid the reserve fund, the county executive is striking a balance between the needs of tax payers and businesses and those who rely on essential county services,” Ravitz said. “This budget sends an important message to business leaders that Westchester is on the right track and that the county is a good place to do business.”

“This budget also highlights the importance for New York State lawmakers to aggressively address the unfunded mandates that they impose on counties and localities. The Business Council will continue in its efforts to lobby state lawmakers to reduce those burdens on taxpayers and businesses,” Ravitz added.

Spending

            Under the proposed spending plan, the current $1.74 billion budget will increase by $21 million or 1 %, which is less than the rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. Spending in Astorino’s proposed 2015 budget is 3.25% lower than the budget he inherited when he came into office in 2010.

There are no operational reductions in the proposed budget, with headcount and spending across departments essentially flat.

Savings are being realized by reducing job vacancies – positions that were funded last year, but not filled – tighter cost controls aimed at reducing overtime, and filling retirements with new workers who tend to be less expensive. For example, new staffing assignments in Public Safety are expected to reduce overtime by about $1 million, and the county saves $62,000 each time it replaces a retiring Correction officer with 20 years of experience with a new hire. In 2015, more than 200 Correction officers will be eligible to retire.

One departmental consolidation, which has the support of both the County Clerk’s Office and the Department of Consumer Protection, is being proposed. By moving the group that licenses plumbers and electricians from the Clerk’s Office to Consumer Protection, personnel costs can be reduced by about $150,000 the first year and $225,000 in the second.

Revenues

            The largest source of revenue – about 32% of the budget – will come from the county tax levy, which will remain at $548 million. In 2011, Astorino reduced the county tax levy by 2% from $561 million, and it has remained at $548 million since then.

Even though the levy is remaining flat, the actual amount of tax paid by property owners can vary based on the different assessment practices used by the municipality where the property is located. County taxes typically account for about 15% of a property owner’s bill, with schools amounting to 65% and municipalities, including special districts, making up the remaining 20%.

Sales tax revenue is projected to increase by 4% to $414 million. The sales tax projection assumes economic growth similar to this year.

In contrast, mortgage tax revenue has fallen steadily this year. Mortgage tax is projected at $16 million in 2015, down $4 million from 2014. The decrease reflects a flat real estate market and more cash transactions.

State and federal aid, which together account for 25% of total revenues, are forecast to be flat in the coming year. State aid is projected to be $251 million, up $1 million, and federal aid is at $206 million, down $1 million.

The bulk of the remaining revenue comes from fees paid to the county, which are projected to be flat in 2015 coming at about $150 million.

The 2015 budget continues the Astorino policy of only using the unrestricted general fund balance, more commonly referred to as the “rainy day” fund, for its intended purpose of acting as a reserve in the event of operational or fiscal emergencies.

In the past, the fund had become a target when money was needed to balance the budget. Astorino has made it a priority to keep the fund at levels that preserve Westchester’s good credit rating – the highest of any county in the state. The 2015 budget projects $142 million for the fund, which is 8.1% of the total 2015 budget, the same as 2014.

“As in year’s past, this budget establishes two goalposts – no tax levy increase and no raiding of the rainy day reserves,” said Astorino. “By working within this framework, we have been able to get the most out of every dollar in our budget for our residents, especially those most in need, and still maintain our principle of protecting the county’s taxpayers and financial integrity.”

Safety Net

            The county’s safety net remains strong in 2015. Direct payments to our neediest residents are going up $3 million in 2015 from $435 million to $438 million. Management efficiencies have made this increase possible. The total Department of Social Services budget is up $1 million to $553 million. Administrative costs have been reduced by $2 million with the savings used to increase direct aid.

Changes to subsidized day care are also producing benefits. For the third year in row, the parent share will remain at 27%. Funding at this level has allowed the county to expand the program to more families. Through September of this year, the program served 3,067 children, up from 2,847 in 2013. In 2015, the program has capacity for 3,283 kids, a 15% increase since 2013.

The parent share is based on a family’s income above the poverty line, not the cost of the day care. Parents pay a share equal to 27% of the amount of their income above the poverty line. Westchester’s parent share is lower than many other counties and New York City.  The average fee for families in the program is $6 a day, based on a five-day week. Parents only pay for the first child; any other children are free. The total cost of the program is $33 million and works out to a subsidy of about $10,000 a child. In comparison, in-state tuition at SUNY Purchase is $6,000.

Headcount

            The proposed headcount in the 2015 budget is 4,859 positions, essentially flat to this year. This figure anticipates the elimination of one currently filled position in the Clerk’s Office, as the trades licensing group is being consolidated and moved from the Clerk’s Office into Consumer Protection. The budget will also eliminate 20 unfilled vacant positions.

Employee compensation continues to be one of the county’s biggest costs. The average salary of a county worker in 2013 was $77,000. A private sector employee working in Westchester makes an average salary of $65,000, according to the most recent figures from the state Department of Labor.  When fringe benefits are added, compensation for the average county worker jumps to $121,000.

One counterweight to spiraling personnel costs has been employee contributions to healthcare. Working with the county’s labor unions, Astorino has negotiated labor contracts where seven of the county’s eight unions are now contributing to their health care. The employee contributions offset the county’s $103 million in health care costs by about $5 million a year. The Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) is the only union that refuses to make health care contributions, despite a fact finder’s contract recommendation, sought by the union and accepted by Astorino, calling for employee health care contributions.

Unfunded State Mandates

            Nine unfunded state mandates, totaling $454 million, will consume 83% of the county’s tax levy in 2015. The largest is Medicaid, the federal and state program that provides medical care to the poor. In 2015, Westchester’s bill from New York State to pay for the program is projected at $212 million.

Pensions, projected to cost $91 million in 2015, are the second largest unfunded mandate charged to the county by the state. To offset the cost, the 2015 proposed budget anticipates the county’s participation in the state’s pension amortization program, which allows the county to defer some payments and pay its pension bill over time.

For 2015, the budget calls for the county to pay $76 million of the $91 million pension expense up front and defer $15 million. This is the county’s smallest deferral since it entered the program in 2012, when pension payments climbed above $70 million a year and skyrocketed to $101 million in 2013.

The proposed budget also calls for borrowing $8 million to pay for anticipated tax certioraris, the claims made against the county by property owners challenging the assessments on which their tax bills are based. Because of the county’s very good credit rating, the borrowing cost will only be about $35,000 a year over five years.

“In a perfect world, the county would never borrow and pay all its bills in cash,” Astorino said. “But in the real world, you are faced with tough decisions. A $100 million pension bill translates to a 20 percent tax increase or 1,000 layoffs. Neither of those choices is realistic or even possible, so you work with your least worst options like borrowing.  And, thanks to the county’s strong credit rating, we’re able to keep the government running and interests costs to a minimum.”

Other Highlights

            Westchester Community College: The county’s contribution to the school is increasing by $500,000, while tuition has remained flat for the second school year in a row.

Transportation: Additional service has been added to routes serving Ridge Hill, Empire City Casino, and Sunday service in Yonkers has also been enhanced. The budget reflects an $8 million increase to pay for the state and federal mandates in the county’s new contract with Bee-Line bus operator, Liberty Lines. The MTA has proposed a fare increase, which if it goes into effect would be applied to the Bee-Line buses.

Health: $50,000 has been added to cover Ebola-related costs, such as additional supplies and a contract with Empress ambulance to transport patients with the disease.

Playland: The amusement park will be open for the 2015 season. A report on improving current operations and outlining future opportunities at the park will be presented to the County Executive by the end of the year. In October, the Ice Casino reopened after being closed by damage from Superstorm Sandy under the new management of American Skating Entertainment Centers. The reopened Ice Casino includes $4.9 million in renovations that preserve the building’s historic Art Deco architecture. American Skating is investing at least an additional $640,000 to upgrade the interior of the building.

Parks: Park passes and parking fees are going up nominally. Golf fees are increasing by $1 at all county courses, except Hudson Hills, which has its own schedule.

Miscellaneous Budget: Arts Westchester, Hudson River Museum, Invest in Kids, Legal Services of Hudson Valley, and various other community-based organizations will see their contributions from the County Executive increase by 3%.

Hits: 122

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. November 8, 2014:

Some residents have complained to WPCNR they have not yet gotten their STAR property tax rebate check. That rebate was ballyhooed by the state legislature and the Governor, as having the effect of freezing residents’ property tax payments at last year’s level, a way of rewarding residents in communities that have kept their property tax levy under the 2% tax cap.

According to a spokesperson for the New York State Department of Tax and Finance, Geoffrey Gloak, the checks are not all being sent at the same time:

“There are 2.5 million checks going out throughout the fall.  When all checks are out, we’ll have an application available in case there are taxpayers who think they’re eligible but did not receive a check.

To be eligible for the freeze check, you must be eligible for a STAR exemption.  One of the qualifications for STAR is that the homeowners’ income is less than $500,000.”

Hits: 176

Scott Yandrasevich

WPCNR COURTSIDE. From the Office of the Westchester District Attorney. November 7, 2014:

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced that Scott Yandrasevich (DOB 2/25/1964) of 11 Abbey Lane, Danbury, Connecticut, pled guilty today to:

• one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony,
• two counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, class “E” Felonies.

Between April 10th, 2007 and August 20, 2012, the defendant, who was the General Manager of the Rye Golf Club, located at 330 Boston Post Road, in Rye, New York, stole approximately $271,120 from the Club and the City of Rye by knowingly submitting false invoices to the City of Rye for fictitious employees over this approximate four and a half year period.

The club is a RyeCity owned non-equity membership club.

The defendant accomplished this larceny by setting up and effectively controlling a staffing company called RM Staffing for the purposes of billing the City of Rye for services provided to the Club.

The defendant submitted false bi-weekly invoices on RM Staffing stationary listing individual(s) who were falsely described as working in “Administration,” “Restaurant” and/or “Operations” at the Club, when in fact no such person(s) worked for the Club.

In total, these fraudulent invoices were submitted during a span of over one hundred pay periods and the City of Rye paid out approximately $271,120 to RM Staffing for these fictional services.

After RM Staffing received these stolen monies, said stolen monies were ultimately transferred back to the defendant, who used said funds for his own personal use.

The Westchester County District Attorneys Office was assisted in this investigation by the City of Rye government officials as well as the Rye City Police Department.

The Rye Police Department became aware of financial irregularities, hired outside counsel who further investigated and forwarded those findings to the District Attorneys office.

Sentencing will be on April 9th, 2015.

The amount of upfront restitution will impact the sentence.

He faces a maximum sentence of fifteen years in state prison.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Conway, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau is prosecuting the case.

Hits: 172

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2014. November 5, 2014:

With 100% of Tuesday ballots counted, last night trends held up, returning Nita Lowey to Congress with a 59% to 41% margin over her challenger, Chris Day in the 17th Congressional District.

Andrea Stewart Cousins defeated Robert Foti to win reelection to White Plains 35th New York State Senate district, by a 2 to 1 margin of votes, 39,466 to 14,526, though Foti did not actively campaign.

George Latimer held on to his lead late election night over Joe Dillon, finishing with 36,619 votes to Mr. Dillon’s 33,488, the Latimer margin  declining to 52% to48%.

Joe Dillon of Yonkers has conceded the close race for New York State Senate’s 37th District. He called to congratulate Senator George Latimer for a spirited campaign, and lauded Latimer’s joining him in an extensive number of debate appearances, which Dillon said was “a testament to the regard we both share for the people of this district and it was healthy for the election process.”

Said Dillon:

“I have spoken to George Latimer and wished him all the best going forward. My family joins me in expressing my deep gratitude for the support of all those who embraced our campaign.  Our everlasting friendship and appreciation goes well beyond this election.”

“In three short months we rose from obscurity to come within four points of unseating a deeply entrenched incumbent, and we did it focusing strictly on the issues of most concern to our community.  We held our campaign to the highest standard because that’s what voters deserve, and I am very proud about that.”

“I hope that George will consider the support echoed by the people for term limits, tax relief, ethics reform and an overhaul of school funding. While Mr. Latimer has won, the people have made it clear that they want change, and their voices deserve to be heard; no matter their station, and regardless of party.”

With all Election Districts reporting, the unofficial Board of Elections count confirmed Democratic City Committee vote totals, reported by WPCNR early Wednesday morning on the Common Council Special Election.

Ms. Nadine Hunt-Robinson finished by sweeping 39 of 46 Election Districts, defeating Terence Guerriere, 7,110 votes to 4,793, a 60% to 40% margin.

Hits: 216

Nadine Hunt-Robinson, a resident of the Fisher Hill neighborhood in White Plains  shown in February when she was appointed to the Common Council to replace Benjamin Boykin on an interim basis, won the Special Council Election to serve the final year of Mr. Boykin’s term Tuesday evening

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2014 By John F. Bailey. November 4, 2014:

According to an unofficial tally of raw Election District Results district-by-district tallied by the White Plains Democratic Party furnished to WPCNR, Nadine Hunt-Robinson has won going away  over Terence Guerriere , winning  60% of the  12,032 votes counted, (of a possible 31,000 White Plains registered voters).

Ms. Nadine Hunt-Robinson, second from left, and Terence Guerriere, second from right at oneof the Campaign Forums in White Plains this fall.

In her sweeping victory, she earned  White Plains voters’ endorsement to fill the unexpired year remaining on former Councilman Benjamin Boykin’s council term beginning in January. She received unofficially 7,234 votes to Mr. Guerriere’s 4,798.  She swept 39 of 46 election districts, losing only 7.

Hunt-Robinson was appointed to the Common Council  as a surprise selection by the City Democratic Committee when appointed in February by Mayor Thomas Roach and the Common Council.

She has not commented extensively in her 9 months on the council, but her comments have not contained any “mistakes,” have appeared measured and thoughtful. An envirnomental lawyer for an insurance company, she was said to bring a level of expertise on such issues that would augment the Council.

Significantly during the forums and the campaign, Ms. Hunt-Robinson did not commit to any particular vote on the French American School of New York site plan, the key matter before the council he last three and a half years, while her opponent, Mr. Guerriere vowed he would vote against it.

Hunt-Robinson overcame annoyance on the part of members of the White Plains City Committee that her experience was limited if at all in matters of city government and that she had not been active and visible in reacting to city issues in the past, and was not even a member of the Democratic Party. She was a member of the Independence Party

Ms. Hunt-Robinson told WPCNR she was approached by the White Plains Ministerial Fellowship and asked to agree to accept the seat because if she did not, the White Plains black community would not have a seat on the Common Council with the departure of Mr. Boykin

She was challenged in a City Committee  nomination election and won by a narrow margin (one vote WPCNR believes) and subsequently was appointed to the Council by Mayor Roach and the Common Council in a unanimous vote. She was endorsed by the White Plains Examiner, and apparently in her forum appearances impressed many. On the French American School of New York issue (particularly in recent hearings) she carefully noted she was concerned about the health and safety of White Plains High School students and would be considering those issues carefully in any decision vote on the FASNY site plan.

Guerriere’s only strength showed up in the immediate Ridgeway Gedney Farms area of the city. Election Districts, not within the vicinity of the controversial proposed French American School Project, all voted for Hunt-Robinson.

Guerriere only started campaigning in earnest in September. Given the margin of victory by Ms. Hunt-Robinson, more campaigning would not have made a difference.

His promises of working for lower parking rates and hours, calls for better budgeting, and protection of neighborhoods and criticism of the FASNY project did not gain traction.

He lost by a larger margin than he did the last time he ran for Common Council in 2011 when he missed getting on the Common Council, 801 votes behind Dennis Krolian. Tuesday he has been unofficially defeated by 2,436 votes by Ms. Hunt-Robinson, an astounding plurality approaching Joseph Delfino (former Mayor of White Plains) popularity margins.

Mr. Guerriere’s  ideas did not resonate with the voters, who apparently liked Ms. Hunt-Robinson’s rational and level headed demeanor and comportment, and hold out hope she will act in their best interests.

The vote is evidence that  the citizens who voted are not unhappy with the way the Common Council and Mayor are leading the city, at least not unhappy enough with policy and conditions like property taxes, development and services to demand changes,   to do something as shocking as voting out a nice person without giving them a chance in favor of a reform type candidate.

We have learned that the majority of neighborhoods with voters who voted do not care about the plight of any neighborhoods except their own.

They do not like discord in White Plains and believe what city leadership and their party believes, and the Democratic Party ( at least in White Plains anyway) knows the buttons to push to keep their party loyalists and get them out to vote their way. They perhaps should graduate to the Democratic National Committee given the national Democrat results Tuesday.

The Democratic City Committee is a very effective organization.

The people have spoken.

For better or worse.

The city moves forward like the 300-car freight train it is.