THE
CityREVIEW NewRochelle May 25, 2018 | Vol. 6, Number 12 | www.cityreviewnr.com
Killian picked to run as GOP lt. governor families and I am honored to join his team as a true partner.” Killian will hope for a better Former Rye City councilwom- outcome in November after sufan and two-time state Senate fering two consecutive defeats candidate Julie Killian has been in races for state Senate. Just last picked to run as lieutenant gov- month, ernor in Marc Molinaro’s upcomshe was defeated last month ing bid to unseat Andrew Cuomo. by state Assemblywoman ShelThe Republican statewide ley Mayer, a Yonkers Democrat, convention is scheduled to take in what was being called a pivotal place on Wednesday, May 23, af- special election for the 37th Dister press time, where Molinaro, trict Senate seat. a Republican and the Dutchess She also lost a bid for the same County executive is expected to seat in 2016 to state Sen. George be nominated as the GOP candi- Latimer, who vacated the posidate to run for governor in this tion this January to take office as November’s election. Westchester County executive. Molinaro announced his selecPrior to that, Killian spent six tion of Killian on Sunday, May years on the Rye City Council, 20. serving from 2012-2017. “Julie Killian is a champion During her last campaign, for people who have no voice, Killian has called for a handwho are left behind, who are in ful of ethics reforms in Albany, crisis and she will never back including term limits. She was down from the challenges that also a critic of New York’s ecoare facing our state,” Molinaro nomic development programs, said in a statement. “I’m proud which seem to reward political to have Julie as my partner in this donors. campaign to restore New Yorkers’ If chosen by the New York Rebelief in the future of our state.” publican State Committee, MoKillian’s name was suggested linaro will seek to defeat Cuomo, for the position by a panel Mo- a Democrat, in November. linaro created in April to find a In a statement on Facebook, the runningmate. The panel was or- state Republican committee apganized by John Cahill, an offi- plauded Molinaro’s pick for lieucial in former Gov. George Pat- tenant governor, saying Killian aki’s administration, and Monroe will “restore transparency, fiscal County Executive Cheryl Di- responsibility and honesty” in nolfo. Cuomo is facing a primary against According to Molinaro’s cam- actress Cynthia Nixon, who is paign, at least 20 candidates were known for her political activism considered for the position, in- for public education and women’s cluding Dinolfo, the leading can- health. New York government. didate who eventually stepped [[[not sure where you copied aside to support Killian. this graph from but it doesn’t In a statement released by Mo- make sense, also it should be in linaro’s campaign, Killian said, your own words, you shouldn’t “Marc and I share a vision of lift text from somewhere else]] New York that is more affordable, accountable and accessible for all CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com
By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer
Not so fast
Members of the Westchester delegation of elected officials have filed a report on storm response in the aftermath of two severe nor’easters earlier this year. Utility companies Con Edison and NYSEG were routinely criticized for their inadequate response to those storms which left residents without power for extended periods of time. For more, see page 6. Photo/James Grasso
Financial report portends major county budget gap could end up totaling upwards of $40 million. “After years of one-shot budA recent financial review of the get gimmicks, over-estimations of Westchester County budget has revenues, refusal to look at ongolawmakers cautioning against a ing sources of revenue and neglect deficit which they say may only of important contracts, the county is looking not only at a significant continue to balloon. The current budget deficit pro- deficit this year, but an ongoing jection for the 2018 fiscal year, structural deficit of around $20 which was forecasted by Law- million,” said county Legislator rence Soule, the county budget di- Catherine Borgia, chairwoman rector [[are we sure he is new?]], of the Budget and Appropriations at a county Board of Legislators’ Committee, in a statement. As a result of a $20 million Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting earlier this month, structural deficit—which comes will stand at $28.7 million. That as a result of the county spending number, however, does not factor more money than it generates in in a looming contract negotiation revenue—lawmakers will likely with the Civil Service Employees be forced to look at the prospect Association, CSEA, the county’s of increases taxes by raising the largest union, which has been op- property tax levy. Under the previous administration of Repuberating sans contract since 2011. During a committee meeting, lican County Executive Rob AsSoule forecasted that the contract torino, who was elected in 2010,
By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
taxes were never raised. Astorino lost re-election in November 2017 to George Latimer, a Democrat who took office as county executive in January. Also as a result of a budget gap, the county will be forced to draw on its fund balance. According to Soule, for the fiscal years of 2017 and 2018, lawmakers are looking at a 61 percent reduction of fund balance if used to fill in those shortfalls, a reduction that could directly affect the county’s AAA credit rating from Moody’s, a financial service and credit rating agency. That rating affects the county’s ability to borrow and issue bonds at preferential interest rates and could prove increasingly important as the Federal Reserve continues to increase borrowing rates. In the county’s favor has been better than expected sales tax revenue which compared to 2017
revenue is up 6.4 percent, and can be attributed to increasing gas prices of which the county takes a share through taxes. The stability of that growth remains to be seen, however. In March, state Comptroller Thomas Dinapoli issued a report forecasting a more modest sales tax increase, adjusting the county’s projected 3.7 percent increase to a 2.8 percent increase—a number more in line with previous years’ actual rates. While a deal to privatize the county’s airport would have also injected additional revenue into 2018’s budget, Latimer’s administration has since pumped the brakes on the plan conjured by Astorino. In defense of sidelining the deal, lawmakers have cited its lack of impact on the structural deficit, instead labeling it a “band-aid.” CONTACT: james@hometwn.com