Westchester County Association Urges Support of Westchester County Executive’s Budget

Dec. 9, 2010 - PRLog -- WHITE PLAINS, NY (December 9, 2010) -- After considerable research and analysis and meetings with both the Executive and Legislative branches, the Westchester County Association the county’s preeminent business membership and advocacy group, believes that the Westchester County Executive’s 2011 budget is best positioned to stimulate the economic health of Westchester County.  

Westchester County Association President Bill Mooney stated, “The input we have received from the majority of our membership is in support of County Executive Astorino’s 2011 budget for the following reasons:

•   The County Executive’s budget puts people first.  It protects the neediest and provides much needed tax relief to home owners and the business community.

•   It makes it possible to retain and attract business to our County.  A vibrant business community creates jobs and greater tax revenue.  It also provides strong support for the non-profit community by way of charitable contributions and board participation.

•   The Astorino budget is fiscally responsible.  It trims the bloat, eliminates redundant services and restructures government.

•   The Astorino budget doesn’t mortgage our future. At face value, both the County Executive and Legislators’ budgets reduce the tax levy by 1%.  The difference is that the Legislators’ budget raids the “piggy bank”, i.e. the Reserve Fund, and focuses on the short term at the expense of the long-term.  

WCA Chairman Al DelBello noted, “The Legislators approach to the budget jeopardizes Westchester County’s Triple A bond rating. Taking $10 million from the projected 2010 surplus as revenue in 2011 is unheard of and counter to sound accounting principles.”

Mooney added, “Using the projected Reserve Fund, which is basically the taxpayers’ savings account, to preserve the status quo is how Wall Street got into trouble and how the federal government got into trouble.” He also noted that the sales tax revenue projections of 4.5% in the Legislators’ budget are unrealistic and will only increase future deficits when those projections are not met.

The WCA leadership and members will be testifying at the Board of Legislators public hearing on Thursday, December 9, 7 PM at the Westchester County Center.

See the video of Bill Mooney speaking on the subject of the proposed Westchester County Budget at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_huGpkR6PaA&feature=player...#!




The Westchester County Association (www.westchester.org) is the preeminent business membership organization in Westchester County.  The Association is committed to business advocacy, economic vitality and to providing a strong and clear voice for the interests of businesses on the regional, national and international levels. Its key objectives are: promoting positive economic development in the region; fostering business development; and providing its members with access and interaction with key public and private sector individuals, agencies and organizations.