NEWSROOM

ASTORINO RELEASES 15-POINT BLUEPRINT TO TAX RELIEF

FOR OVERBURDENED WESTCHESTER RESIDENTS

 

The Astorino 15-Point Blueprint to Tax Relief will:


1. Reduce the size of the County Executive's office 10% on day one. Change begins at the top;

2. Institute a hiring freeze in County government and eliminate non-essential positions through attrition over four years. Westchester's payroll has exploded under Andy Spano.

3. Require all managers and appointed employees to contribute to their health
care costs, and negotiate modest contributions to health insurance plans from union employees. Currently no county employees make contributions to their health insurance;

4. End the abuse of perks in county government. Eliminate county cars for employees whose positions don't require them. Sell excess inventory;

5. Release the budget on October 15th, a month early, like most counties do, to allow for greater public scrutiny. Currently it is released on Nov. 15th, after Election Day;

6. Reduce exploding long-term pension costs through hiring reductions today;

7. Cut 10% across the board for budget lines 2000, 3000, and 4000 (equipment, materials and supplies, expenses) a savings of more than $23 million;

8. End taxpayer drain at Playland by leasing rides and concessions to professionals and collecting rent and a percentage of profits. (Playland has lost $37 million in 10 years and $5 million this year alone.);

9. End travel junkets disguised as county "business";

10. Merge overlapping county agencies to reduce duplication;

11. Post online all County contracts, key documents, invoices, etc. Transparent government is accountable government;

12. Reform powerful and secretive Board of Acquisition and Contracts by requiring bi-partisan checks and balances;

13. Establish zero-based budgeting system. This identifies waste and forces managers to justify every dollar spent;

14. Consolidate county services in cooperation with towns, villages, and cities. Westchester has 425 taxing entities today, and

15. Eliminate the County Executive's round-the-clock chauffeur and bodyguards. Rob will drive himself to work.