Dear Friends and Neighbors,
On Monday, I joined my colleagues on the Board of Legislators in unanimously adopting capital, special district and operating budgets for 2021 for Westchester County.
The $2.09 billion operating budget is $15.7 million lower than the 2020 budget and it reduces the County property tax levy by $1.0 million, while preserving and in many areas expanding human services that are so desperately needed today.
The operating budget balances the needs of everyone from County taxpayers to people struggling with the impacts of the pandemic.
It builds on the work the Board did last year, adding further support for community-based nonprofit organizations that provide cost-effective help to the County's most vulnerable residents in dealing with hunger, domestic violence, eviction and educational support, among other areas.
In addition, during budget negotiations, the Board and County Executive George Latimer reached an agreement to reduce the share of childcare costs paid by parents who are income-eligible for help.This was a top Board priority.
People are hurting. Businesses are hurting. They are turning to us for help, and we cannot and will not fail them.
We're providing millions of additional dollars for economic development, millions more for the social safety net, millions to deal with food insecurity and housing insecurity – programs the people of this County need to weather the storm of COVID-19 and strengthen our ability to rebuild as vaccines arrive in the new year.
The 2021 operating budget is tough, with a reduction in County headcount through vacancies and this summer's voluntary separation package. But it is also realistic. Federal COVID aid was so important to Westchester's finances in 2020. While we, like every county across the nation, are in need of additional support in the new year, our 2021 operating budget doesn't count on it. It also anticipates substantial reductions in state aid.
Building back from this once-in-a-century pandemic is going to be a multi-year process. COVID-19 left an economic crater in the budgets of every county across this nation. Those kinds of holes don't get filled in a single budget. It is going to take a continuation of the ingenuity, hard work, cooperation and leadership we have seen across the County this year from County Executive George Latimer, to our County Budget Department, to my colleagues on the Board of Legislators and all our Board staff.
In times of crisis, this government and its employees have stepped up for the people of Westchester. Our Health Department has stepped up, our Department of Community Mental Health has stepped up, our Parks Department has stepped up. All the entities of this government have worked for a singular purpose – to protect and support the people of Westchester County.
We will have much work to do in 2021 – to help our residents, businesses and institutions build back. But brighter skies are on the horizon with vaccines on the way, and the budgets we are passing will help get us to those brighter days.
Please forward this e-news to family and friends who may be interested in this information.
Sincerely,
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