Astorino Signs No Tax Increase County Budget

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino Friday signed his $1.8 billion budget for 2016, another no-tax-increase spending plan that he reached with a bi-partisan coalition of legislators.

In addition to no increase in the tax levy, Astorino also met another of his goals, namely not raiding of the county’s “rainy day” fund to pay for operational expenses.

The coalition budget passed on Monday and had the support of two Democrats and eight Republicans, giving it one more vote than the necessary nine to pass. It was negotiated by the Administration, County Board of Legislators’ Chairman Michael Kaplowitz, Vice Chairman James Maisano, Republican Majority Leader John Testa and Budget Chairperson Sheila Marcotte.

Astorino was joined members of the coalition during the pictured signing ceremony on Friday.

Highlights from the coalition budget include:

• Tax Levy: $548 million – no increase from 2015
• Spending: $1.8 billion – flat to 2015
• Safety Net: $595 million – no decrease from 2015
• Unrestricted Reserves (Rainy Day Fund): $140 million – no decrease from 2015
• Headcount: 4,160 total general fund position count – four layoffs and 64 vacancy eliminations.

Photo: Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and county legislators Friday during a ceremony to sign the $1.8 billion county budget for 2016. Photo credit: Contributed