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(WHITE PLAINS, NY) Earlier this week, the Board of Legislators voted to make Westchester the latest community to become a New York Climate Smart Community. The resolution, introduced by Legislator Catherine Parker, aims to find energy efficiencies and cost savings available to municipalities and promote economic growth in the expanding green technology field.

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(WHITE PLAINS, NY) The Westchester County Board of Legislators adopted the 2016 budget today stretches Westchester County’s operations to the thinnest of all time and remains structurally unbalanced according to numerous independent opinions as a result of accounting gimmicks, one shot revenues and suspect revenue projections.  The budget most significantly relies on an aggressive assumption for sales tax revenues with a 4% growth rate. The Citizens Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC) and the County’s independent auditors stated that the sales tax revenues are too aggressive and cited that Nassau and Suffolk Counties and many of our local municipalities budget for roughly 1 – 2 % growth in sales tax revenues. CBAC recommends that the 2016 budget for sales tax be reduced by $10 to $15 million.  The Democratic Caucus had proposed an alternative that involved the proceeds from the sale of the Austin Avenue building and over $4 million in energy efficiencies that are still available.  

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(WHITE PLAINS, NY) As the Board of Legislators goes through the additions and deletions phase of the budget process, several members of the Board have released a plan to restore services provided by many non-profit agencies, realize millions in energy and electricity savings and continue to operate without raising any taxes.  The estimated restorations totaled slightly over $6 million and were offset by nearly $17 million in additional non-tax-hike revenues.  The $17 million of revenue was comprised of $12.5 million from the sale of a property in Yonkers and over $4 million in savings that can be achieved through energy efficiencies.  Many of these suggestions were voted down during a recent meeting of the Budget Committee.

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WHITE PLAINS, NY—As part of the detailed overview of the County Executive’s 2016 budget proposal, the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC) appeared before the Board of Legislators to issue their feedback on the proposal.  CBAC is a non-partisan group of 10 members tasked with seeking regular input on fiscal matters from the public through public hearings and through monthly meetings of CBAC. 

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(WHITE PLAINS, NY) Westchester County Board of Legislators Majority Leader Catherine Borgia released the following statement upon the news that Westchester County DA Janet DiFiore is expected to be nominated as the Chief Judge of the NYS Court of Appeals by Governor Cuomo: