WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. (Edited) October 15, 2007 UPDATED: County Executive Andy Spano today proposed a $105 Million general fund capital projects budget for 2008 year that introduces a five-year, $50-million flood mitigation program. The news release appears to say the county plans to bond for the entire $105 Million, but does not estimate the total cost over the years to the taxpayers. WPCNR is attempting to clarify whether that is correct. The capital budget has been increased 5.9% for 2008
The plan calls for construction of a new County Department of Public Safety Building for $9 Million; a new “Molecular Diagnostic Lab at Labs and Research in Valhalla ($4.58M) which will add “new technologies” the purpose of which is “helping doctors and hospitals make quicker diagnosis to save lives and protect the public”; rehabilitation of the Department of Emergency Services Main Facility($9M); replacement of windows in the Michaelian Building and 112 East Post Road; purchasing of hybrid buses and 20 electric vehicles and a charging station; $31. 5 Million for the the Refuse Disposal and Sewer Districts; and $3.48 Million for airport capital projects -- that do not impact the city budget. (WPCNR has inquired as to the details.)
“The ravages of last April’s Nor’easter have made it clear that we need to act decisively to protect our communities from flooding,’’ said Spano. “Continued development and changes in weather patterns have left our communities more vulnerable than ever. Areas that never had problems before were devastated last April. Homes and businesses became uninhabitable. Some residents who could least afford it, lost everything. This is an issue that crosses municipal lines and we must focus on possible solutions together.’’
To that end, Spano held a Flood Summit last spring and appointed a Flood Mitigation Task Force to propose solutions. Funds set aside in the capital budget could be used to finance projects recommended by the task force. The amount to be spent on such projects in 2008 awaits the task force’s recommendations.
Bonding for $105 Million
The capital budget proposal, which was delivered to the Westchester County Board of Legislators today, is a spending plan for projects that the county would pay for with bonds. The interest costs of these bonds go into the county’s operating budget as expenses. The costs to Westchester of borrowing are kept relatively low due to the county’s triple-A bond rating, the highest rating possible.
Spano’s proposed budget for operating expenses will be released Nov. 15. The Board of Legislators has until the end of December to adopt it along with the capital projects budget. The proposed capital budget is 5.9 percent higher than last year’s.
The $105 million included in the general purpose capital projects budget includes these highlights:
Public Health and Safety
· Funding for the construction phase of a Molecular Diagnostic Lab at Labs and Research in Valhalla. These latest technologies will identify SARS, tuberculosis, whooping cough, and resistant HIV strains more rapidly, helping doctors and hospitals make quicker diagnosis to save lives and protect the public.
· Funds for construction of a new Public Safety Headquarters Building. (The design phase of this project was provided in previous years.) When the original building was constructed, there were only 60 police officers. Today the department has nearly 300 employees. As the demands increase on the Department of Public Safety to protect the residents in the areas of crime, terrorism and security, more space is needed for it to function properly,” Spano said.
· Funding for the rehabilitation of the Department of Emergency Services’ Main Facility. “By reconfiguring the space for additional program use, more first responders throughout Westchester can be trained to better protect our residents,” Spano said.
Energy Savings
· As part of his commitment to leading by example in the efforts to lower energy costs and fight global warming, the budget proposes funding to replace windows in two of the county government’s oldest building in White Plains: 112 East Post Road and the Michaelian Office Building at 148 Martine Ave.
· Funds to continue purchasing hybrid buses.
Open Space
· Funding of $5 million to continue parkland acquisition through Spano’s multi-year Legacy Program. To date, the program has funded skate parks and ballfields in Yorktown, Yonkers, Port Chester, Rye Brook and White Plains, and the Miracle Field in Hartsdale for disabled children.
Other Funds
Separate budgets for capital projects at the airport (proposed at almost $3.4 3 million) and for sewer, water and refuse districts (proposed at almost $31.5 million) do not impact the county’s operating budget.
Airport projects, funded through the Airport Special Revenue Fund, include upgrades to electric systems and infrastructure, taxiway rehabilitation and the resurfacing of the terminal roadway network
It also includes replacement of over 20 gas and diesel powered vehicles with electric vehicles and the installation of a charging station, addressing both energy savings as well as environmental concerns. (Federal funds for these improvements will be sought.)
· The 2008 Proposed Capital Budget for the Refuse Disposal and Sewer Districts in the requested amount of $31,480,000 provides for the continued infrastructure improvements and rehabilitation of plants, pump station upgrades and equipment replacement. .
