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Latimer said that the budget proposal will include a $15 million cut in total spending while cutting the property tax levy by $1 million for the second straight year.
The tax reduction comes with no increase to the county’s sales tax, there will be no layoffs or reduction in essential services in Westchester.
According to Latimer, the county was able to balance this year’s budget with the help of the federal government during the pandemic.
“Boy did we have a tough budget, but we were fortunate that the federal government, through the CARES Act, helped us balance our budget,” he said, noting that those funds were used to ensure essential services such as healthcare and public safety remain fully funded.
The proposal for next year also includes $5 million for both economic development programs and housing assistance, as well as approximately $2 million for food insecurity.
“We’re neighbors in this county and we’re not going to turn our back on our neighbors,” Latimer said. “We’re not going to say ‘sorry, we can’t help you,’ we’re going to help you out in any way we can so that’s why we set the tax levy and continue the services and this budget reflects that.”
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