NEWSROOM

October 20, 2009

 

ASTORINO HOSTS ERIE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CHRIS COLLINS,
WESTCHESTER BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADERS AT
"SMARTER GOVERNMENT; BETTER GOVERNMENT" SUMMIT

 

Round Table Takes Aim at Westchester's Sky-High Taxes

 

 

White Plains, NY--Oct. 20...Reform Westchester county executive candidate Rob Astorino (R-I), who has made tax relief, streamlined government, and transparency the hallmarks of his candidacy, today hosted more than a dozen Westchester business and civic leaders at a round table discussion with cost-cutting Erie County Executive Chris Collins.

The discussion, held at an office building in White Plains and entitled "Smarter Government; Better Government", centered on addressing Westchester's record-high tax burden. Westchester residents pay the highest property taxes in America, two years running, according to the US Census Bureau.

Erie County, which Mr. Collins has led since 2007, has one million residents and a budget of about $1 billion. Westchester has just under a million residents, but it has a budget almost twice the size of Erie County's--$1.8 billion. Erie has faced severe economic challenges in recent years, including high property taxes, and Mr. Collins is widely credited with lowering the cost of government there, while maintaining strong support services.

"Executives around the state like Mike Bloomberg (I), Chris Collins (R) and Tom Suozzi (D), as well as those in other states, like Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, are finding innovative solutions to the challenges taxpayers face," Mr. Astorino said. "This round table discussion is the first of many I will hold as county executive to bring the best practices available in America here, and to share my administration's ideas and successes with others. The burden on Westchester taxpayers has reached the breaking point. The 1970's, perk-laden government we have today has to be reformed."

"Rob Astorino will face head-on the critical issue of the day: the crippling tax burden on families caused by years of careless spending," County Executive Collins said. "New York State is in perilous fiscal shape and we need to be smarter about how we spend money. I am grateful that Mr. Astorino asked me to address today's round table, and I look forward to exchanging ideas with him moving forward."

Westchester County taxes have increased 60% in the last seven years under incumbent County Executive Andy Spano, and spending has increased by a billion dollars under his tenure, doubling the size of the county's annual budget.