RyeCity REVIEW THE
December 16, 2022 | Vol. 10, Number 50 | www.ryecityreview.com
Latimer signs 2023 county budget
HOOP
IT UP! Paige Tepedino takes the ball to the hoop against Sleepy Hollow on Dec. 9, 2022. The Garnets won 46-18 to give head coach Margo Hackett her 100th career victory. For story, see page 16. Photo/Mike Smith
New Rochelle’s Bramson won’t seek reelection in 2023 In a letter to the New Rochelle community, Mayor Noam Bramson expressed a “deep sense of gratitude—for the partnership of colleagues in government, for the energy, wisdom, and generosity of supporters, and, above all, for the trust and confidence of the people of New Rochelle.” When his term concludes at the end of 2023, Bramson will have served New Rochelle for nearly three decades—18 years as mayor and 10 years as a member of the City Council. Bramson’s legacy is wide-ranging. Under his leadership, New Rochelle is experiencing the most dynamic growth in a century, with unprecedented economic development throughout its downtown. Bramson was instrumental in advancing the city’s environmental goals by writing and adopting New Rochelle’s first sustainability plan. Working with colleagues in the city
administration and council, Bramson advocated for and approved record investments in infrastructure, parks, and capital assets. And Bramson was front and center in securing competitive national and state grants for innovative initiatives such as the LINC and NRVR. “Our progress today is made even more gratifying by the memory of challenges overcome,” said Bramson. “Far and wide, New Rochelle is viewed now as an innovative leader with an exceptionally bright future. And through it all, we have preserved what is best in our civic character – an inclusive spirit that celebrates diversity and welcomes people of every tradition and circumstance.” In addition, Bramson led New Rochelle through some of its most challenging experiences: the Great Recession of 2008, which imposed enormous pressures on cities throughout America, and the
COVID crisis, when the city was in the global spotlight as an initial epicenter of the viral outbreak, and “For the great majority of my tenure as City Manager, I have worked with Noam as the City’s Mayor,” said City Manager Chuck Strome. “He has been New Rochelle’s chief elected official through both difficult and good times, and has always been willing to stand up and be the face of our City to its residents no matter how good or bad the situation was. I was extremely thankful for his ability to help guide us through the pandemic with his honest and straightforward communication with our residents. Noam has always sought to improve our City, balancing development with sustainability and resiliency, whether on the waterfront, in the downtown or in our many diverse neighborhoods. It has been my pleasure to serve with Noam and I wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Westchester County Executive George Latimer signed his 2023 Westchester County Budget, cutting the County Property Tax Levy by $6 million, flanked by members of the Westchester County Departments of Emergency Services, Corrections, Probation and Public Safety. The budget was passed by the county Board of Legislators earlier in the day, bipartisan 17-0. Latimer said: “I am signing this budget today and thinking of all the families who are preparing for the holidays – this budget is for them. We have cut taxes again and have done so while also expanding the programs and services they have come to depend on. I am proud of this budget, and our collaboration with the Board of Legislators; this is what honest and fair governing is, that is who we are as an administration and as a County.” The total budget is $2.365 billion and includes Latimer’s fourth County property tax cut in a row. Closing 2022 with projected $65.9 million operating surplus No borrowing for tax certs No borrowing for pension No use of fund balance 2023 Budget contains no borrowing or one-shots No borrowing for tax certs No use of fund balance No borrowing for cash flow County Board of Legislators Chairwoman Catherine Borgia: “Westchester County is stronger and in a better state financially, and we are paying it forward to our residents. We’ve prioritized meaningful investments in areas that affect our constituents every day. Parents receiving subsidies can now pay less out of pocket to afford better quality childcare. We’re closing the digital divide by expanding internet access throughout the County. We’ve increased funding for communi-
ty-based organizations providing services directly to those who need them. I am excited for all that we will accomplish in 2023 through mutual commitment and collaboration with the County Executive’s Office.” The 2023 Budget funds the departments of Corrections, Public Safety, Probation and Emergency Services at the highest levels in Westchester County history: • Correction $156.6 million • Public Safety $59.1 million • Probation $50.2 million • Department of Emergency Services $13 million The County is also focusing on food assistance, the Budget has $2 million in funding for Feeding Westchester and food pantries around the County. Additionally, for Child Care, the Budget reduces the parent share from 27% in 2018 to 5% in 2023. Economic Development accounts for $6 million in the 2023 Operating Budget, with a focus on the Life Sciences, Tourism and Healthcare Sectors. This includes $1.4 million for the Downtown Improvement Grant (DIG) Program. The budget allots $218.7 million for the County Health Department, that includes $1 million for maternal mortality. Additionally, the budget is expanding funding to Federally Qualified Health Centers/Neighborhood Health Centers by $1 million bringing the total to $3 million. The 2023 Budget has $17.2 million for the Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH), specifically the Project Alliance Mobile Crisis Response Team, $6.1 million for Crisis Network and 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline, $565,000 for Opioid
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