Governor Cuomo Releases 2019 Budget Proposal

Governor Andrew Cuomo released his $175 billion budget proposal on Tuesday, which included many new initiatives that will have an impact on Westchester residents — such implementing congestion pricing to fund MTA improvements

“We are glad that the Governor has called to make permanent the 2 percent cap on property taxes, which has been a priority of the Business Council of Westchester since it was first implemented,” said John Ravitz, Vice President and COO of The BCW. “The property tax cap would benefit Westchester residents who have some of the highest property taxes in the nation.”

Also in the positive column, said Ravitz, is the addition of funding for child care, which will benefit employers who have workers with small children. He said he was also encouraged that the Governor has continued support for the Regional Economic Development Council, including $100 million provided for the state’s Downtown Revitalization Program.

“We were also pleased that the Governor did not include a single payer healthcare option in his budget, which the BCW has always opposed, which would have had a serious fiscal impact on businesses of all sizes in New York State,’’ said Ravitz.

Ravitz said the BCW was very concerned about the governor’s Prevailing Wage proposal, which would significantly increase the cost of construction and have a negative impact on higher education, not-for-profit organizations, libraries and other institutions across the state who have received state funding for major construction work.

As we have done each year, Ravitz added, the BCW will continue to press the Governor and the State Legislature to adopt real mandate relief in this year’s budget, which would save the taxpayers of New York many millions of dollars each year.