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WHITE PLAINS — Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino released an outline anticipating a $166 million county budget deficit by 2011.
“We have no choice; we must act now or things will only get worse,” Astorino said. “We have to dramatically cut the costs of our government. If changes are not made, our deficit for next year will be at least $166 million and could be $266 million by 2012 and $355 million by 2013.”
County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz, D-4, said Astorino’s move was ironic because it came just days after the county executive gave raises to two of his staff members after running on a platform of cutting costs.
“I opposed those raises,” Kaplowitz said.
He and other county Democrats had called for consolidation months ago and hoped that the Astorino administration would consider some of those ideas, Kaplowitz said.
Astorino said that in 2011, if no cuts are made, county spending will automatically increase by about $116 million from 2010. The number includes increases in personnel costs (such as salaries, pensions and health care), social services and overall operations.
On the revenue side for 2011, the administration projects a decrease of about $50 million, including drops in federal aid and a drastically reduced fund balance from previous years to draw upon.
Sales tax revenue is expected to remain substantially down from its peak of about $363 million in both 2007 and 2008. Projections for 2010 are $339.6 million and about $18 million more in 2011.
Astorino said actual sales tax receipts are running behind projections for the first two months of the year. Even if the sales tax eventually rebounds as the nation and Westchester recover from the recession, he explained, this cannot offset the loss of other revenues and increased expenditures.
He said his own office is operating with $1.2 million less than was spent in 2009, and said he has already acted to realize some savings and will act to implement $16 million in savings in 2010 based on recommendations by his department heads which include:
*$5.8 million from the Department of Social Services, including $3.3 million in reduced costs of foster care due to better case management, $2.1 million in savings from the refinancing of bonds
*$2.7 million in savings in the IT department by temporarily not filling vacant positions, cutting overtime, and deferring some maintenance and hardware purchases in the IT department,
*$905,000 by temporarily not filling vacant positions, reducing overtime through redeployment and eliminating the mounted unit in the public safety department,
*$1.37 million in savings in the transportation department by temporarily not filling vacant positions and eliminating the express bus route (Bx M4C) to New York City since the ridership on this bus route is down. Other alternatives, such as Metro-North, are available and the loss of service will not unduly impact low-income commuters.
*$1.6 million in savings in the parks department by temporarily delaying the filling of 20 vacant positions, closing the Croton Park Pool and opening Playland one hour later each day.
Astorino also discussed some of the long-term steps that might be used to cut county spending including eliminating 1,600 county positions, which he said would save $160 million.
“The average cost of a Westchester County employee with fringe benefits is $100,000,” Astorino said. “For every 100 full-time positions eliminated, the savings would be $10 million.”
Other possible cuts included:
*$20.5 million can be saved in salary and fringe benefits if the county’s major unions would agree to forego raises next year.
*$23.8 million can be saved with a five percent decrease in pay and $47.6 million with a 10 percent decrease.
*$22.3 million can be saved if the unions agreed to a 15 percent contribution to the cost of their county health plan. Savings grow as contributions are increased.
*$5.1 million can be saved by a five-day county-wide employee furlough.
*$7 million in savings in personnel costs that can be realized in 2011 if employees are given an incentive to voluntarily leave employment with the county.
Kaplowitz said he applauded Astorino’s long- and short-term approach to cutting spending and the county executive is right to be alarmed.
“His ringing of that bell is appropriate,” Kaplowitz said. “You can’t stop an aircraft carrier when it’s already in the harbor.”
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