Eastchester REVIEW THE
May 25, 2018 | Vol. 6, Number 21 | www.eastchesterreview.com
Killian picked as lt. governor candidate 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
Former Rye City councilwoman and two-time state Senate candidate Julie Killian has been picked to run as lieutenant governor in Marc Molinaro’s upcoming bid to unseat Andrew Cuomo. The Republican statewide convention is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, May 23, after press time, where Molinaro, a Republican and the Dutchess County executive is expected to be nominated as the GOP candidate to run for governor in this November’s election. Molinaro announced his selection of Killian on Sunday, May 20. “Julie Killian is a champion for people who have no voice, who are left behind, who are in crisis and she will never back down from the challenges that are facing our state,” Molinaro said in a statement. “I’m proud to have Julie as my partner in this campaign to restore New Yorkers’ belief in the future of our state.” Killian’s name was suggested be attributed to increasing gas prices of which the county takes for the position by a panel Molinaro created in April to find a a share through taxes. The stability of that growth runningmate. The panel was orremains to be seen, however. In ganized by John Cahill, an offiMarch, state Comptroller Thom- cial in former Gov. George Patas Dinapoli issued a report fore- aki’s administration, and Monroe casting a more modest sales tax County Executive Cheryl Diincrease, adjusting the county’s nolfo. According to Molinaro’s camprojected 3.7 percent increase to a 2.8 percent increase—a number paign, at least 20 candidates were more in line with previous years’ considered for the position, including Dinolfo, the leading canactual rates. While a deal to privatize the didate who eventually stepped county’s airport would have also aside to support Killian. In a statement released by Moinjected additional revenue into 2018’s budget, Latimer’s admin- linaro’s campaign, Killian said, istration has since pumped the “Marc and I share a vision of brakes on the plan conjured by New York that is more affordable, Astorino. In defense of sidelining accountable and accessible for all the deal, lawmakers have cited families and I am honored to join its lack of impact on the struc- his team as a true partner.” Killian will hope for a better tural deficit, instead labeling it a outcome in November after suf“band-aid.” fering two consecutive defeats in races for state Senate. Just CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
Financial report portends major county budget gap By JAMES PERO Staff Writer A recent financial review of the Westchester County budget has lawmakers cautioning against a deficit which they say may only continue to balloon. The current budget deficit projection for the 2018 fiscal year, which was forecasted by Lawrence Soule, the county budget director], at a county Board of Legislators’ Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting earlier this month, will stand at $28.7 million. That number, however, does not factor in a looming contract negotiation with the Civil Service Employees Association, CSEA, the county’s largest union, which has been operating sans contract since 2011. During a committee meeting, Soule forecasted that the contract could end up totaling upwards
of $40 million. “After years of one-shot budget gimmicks, over-estimations of revenues, refusal to look at ongoing sources of revenue and neglect of important contracts, the county is looking not only at a significant deficit this year, but an ongoing structural deficit of around $20 million,” said county Legislator Catherine Borgia, chairwoman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, in a statement. As a result of a $20 million structural deficit—which comes as a result of the county spending more money than it generates in revenue—lawmakers will likely be forced to look at the prospect of increases taxes by raising the property tax levy. Under the previous administration of Republican County Executive Rob Astorino, who was elected in 2010, taxes were never raised. Astori-
no 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
Former Rye City Deputy Mayor Julie Killian has been selected to be Republican gubernatorial candidate Marc Molinaro’s running mate in his upcoming bid to unseat Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
last month, she was defeated last month by state Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer, a Yonkers Democrat, in what was being called a pivotal special election for the 37th District Senate seat. She also lost a bid for the same seat in 2016 to state Sen. George Latimer, who vacated the position this January to take office as Westchester County executive. Prior to that, Killian spent six years on the Rye City Council, serving from 2012-2017. During her last campaign, Killian has called for a handful of ethics reforms in Albany, including term limits. She was also a critic of New York’s economic development programs, which seem to reward political donors. If chosen by the New York Republican State Committee, Molinaro will seek to defeat Cuomo, a Democrat, in November. In a statement on Facebook, the state Republican committee applauded Molinaro’s pick for lieutenant governor, saying Killian will “restore transparency, fiscal responsibility and honesty” in New York government. Cuomo is facing a primary against actress Cynthia Nixon, who is known for her political activism for public education and women’s health. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com