BCW’s Gordon Joins County Executive for County Budget Signing

BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon was on hand along with BCW member and small business owner Ronnie Ram of Inspira Outdoor Advertising as well as business, not-for-profit and legislative leaders for a ceremony where Westchester County Executive George Latimer officially signed the County’s 2020 operating budget. The event was held Tuesday at Inspira’s headquarters in downtown White Plains.

“This is good, positive progressive policy coupled with good fiscal policy done in a bi-partisan fashion,” said Latimer of the 2.1 billion dollar budget which includes a $1 million dollar cut to the Westchester County Property Tax Levy.

“While we committed to at least a freeze of County property taxes, we went even further and cut the County’s property tax levy by $1 million. This budget is about the people who live in Westchester County, it is about giving them some property tax relief while at the same time working to make their County the best it can be – by providing services and programs taxpayers rely on while placing the County back onto solid financial ground.”

This is the first time, in almost a decade that a County Executive has proposed a budget that reduces the County property tax levy. The cut to the tax levy is due in large part to the Westchester County Property Taxpayer Protection Act which shares back 20% to municipalities and 10% to school districts. The 30% amounts to over $40 million helping to provide additional property tax relief.

The 2020 budget also allocates $1 million dollars in economic development. Among the areas the money will be used for are workforce development initiatives to promote economic development in Westchester by bringing more wage earners into the workforce and building a pipeline of talent that will enable the county’s businesses to grow through a mentorship program.

“The county’s investments in economic development translates into job growth, new business stimulation and support, and solid investment in industry clusters that are thriving,” said Gordon. “This public-private partnership will create exciting and productive new economic opportunities, as these investments in small businesses in high-demand sectors result in business growth, job growth, and careers which support Westchester’s families.”