WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications (Edited). October 16, 2008: County Executive Andy Spano Wednesday proposed spending $21.7 million less next year on capital projects than the county spent in 2008, but did not indicate whether the county budget would remain at the same spending level. The total budget will be presented November 14.

Spano’s proposed $91,176,000 million capital budget for 2009 – 19 percent less than this year’s – was submitted today to the Board of Legislators. The adopted capital budget for 2008 was $114,880,000 (out of a total county budget of $1.8 Billion).

Mr. Spano's Chief Advisor, Susan Tolchin told WPCNR Tuesday, "According to our latest numbers, we are on our projections with sales tax revenue based on the second quarter report. We have not received the third quarter report as yet. Mortage fees revenues are down county wide. For us  as it stands now, we are looking at a $7 million shortfall (in mortgage tax revenues) . In response we have already cut $13 million from our 2008 budget to meet any projected shortfall in revenues and also to counteract the state cuts of over $6 million."

“I am forever mindful of the tax implications in every single area of county government,” he said, “We continue to review every item with an eye towards eliminating or delaying anything which is not absolutely necessary. The programs in this capital budget reflect this policy.” 

Recommended projects include those for infrastructure improvements that will enable the county to save energy, a continuation of the county’s commitment to build more affordable housing and preserve open space, and rehabilitation of parkways, roads and bridges.

The capital projects budget 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.

Separate budgets for capital projects at the airport and for sewer, water and refuse districts do not impact the county’s operating budget.

Spano’s proposed budget for operating expenses will be released Nov. 15. The Board of Legislators has until the end of December to adopt the operating and capital projects budgets.

Energy Savings:

• Various upgrades to heating and air conditioning systems to conserve energy
• Continuation of roof  replacement program using green technology as well as other building improvements to reduce overall energy consumption. 

Affordable Housing and Open Space:

• The budget continues Spano’s commitment to work with municipalities to develop affordable housing. To date through the Housing Implementation Fund and New Homes Land acquisition, a total of 2,313 units have been funded. Spano proposes spending  $8 million.
• In addition, through the Parkland Acquisition/Westchester Legacy program, the county will again set aside $5 million to assist municipalities to provide for parkland, ball fields and open space. To date Yonkers, Greenburgh, Rye Brook, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, White Plains and Port Chester have benefited. Two more fields, in Yorktown and Ardsley, will be dedicated next year.

Parkway, Road and Bridges:

• The county’s bridge and parkway rehabilitation projects continue to keep roadways in a safe condition for motorists. This budget includes necessary repairs to roads and bridges in Mount Vernon, Pelham, North Salem, Yonkers and Bedford. To reduce maintenance costs, the county continues its policy of  ultimately turning  county roads over to the local municipalities, once they are rehabilitated.

Recreation:

• The only projects being considered are those that will add to the pleasure of  residents or aid the environment and at the same time generate revenue. Therefore, work will be done at the county’s golf courses, at Tibbetts Brook Park, and along the Bronx River Reservation.

Transportation:

• The county will spend $1.8 million for the continued purchase of hybrid buses so the county can save on fuel costs. Spano noted he has always supported mass transportation and that ridership on the county’s Bee-Line buses has increase significantly with the increase in gas prices.  

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Airport:

• The capital program for 2009 includes storm water management, rehabilitation of taxiways as well as equipment acquisition for a total of $2.3 million paid for out of airport funds. The airport’s capital budget is not paid for with tax dollars, but the county oversees its capital program to ensure that work is done in accordance with strict environmentally mandated standards.

Refuse and Sewer Districts:

• The capital program for the refuse and sewer districts continues to provide for the rehabilitation and infrastructure improvements in accordance with the districts’ five-year capital plans. The program includes equipment replacement, material recovery enhancements, and upgrades and rehabilitation to both pumping stations and facilities which will also save on energy. Building on the success of the county’s  recycling program, which continues to save taxpayer dollars, this budget contains funding for the design and construction of advanced technology equipment to improve the sorting of recyclables. This, in turn, will generate more revenue to the county. The total capital funding for both districts is $44.2 million.
• The refuse and sewer district budgets do not affect the county’s operating budget.

The proposed capital project budget is available online at www.westchestestergov.com/budget