NEWSROOM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bill O’Reilly, 914-619-5252

 

ASTORINO GIVES THUMBS UP TO CUOMO CONSOLIDATION BILL
 

Calls on Westchester Delegation of
State Legislature to Support

 

White Plains, NY, May 21... Reform Westchester County Executive candidate Rob Astorino (R-I), who is running for County Executive to "stop the tax madness", streamline government services and restore a high standard of ethics to county government, today called on the Westchester delegation of the New York State Legislature to support a bill advocated by Attorney General Andrew Cuomo (D) to give localities the power to consolidate local services.

The Attorney General's plan would give county and town officials the power to abolish special districts that serve single functions, such as water and sewer districts. Current law requires action by the State Legislature. The plan also allows citizens to put proposals on the ballot to consolidate governments, if they get the signatures of 10 percent of voters, or 5,000 voters, whichever is less.

Mr. Astorino has long advocated smart government consolidation as a way to save money for taxpayers. In 1996, as a member of the Mount Pleasant Town Board, he successfully supported merging three separate water districts into one by abolishing the Hawthorne Water Improvement District, Thornwood Water District, and Valhalla Water District into the newly formed Kensico Water District. Hawthorne and Thornwood had separate commissioners, personnel, operations, and taxing authority and Valhalla was run by the Town Board. The consolidation realized many cost efficiencies and is widely hailed as a success.

"Layer upon layer of government are burying Westchester's taxpayers and it's time for a smart and efficient new approach. This plan is a critical first step toward reducing the overwhelming tax burden we face in Westchester County," said Mr. Astorino. "I applaud Attorney General Cuomo for his leadership on this issue and I urge the governor and legislature to act swiftly in enacting this important reform."

Westchester County has more than doubled its spending in the past 12 years-from $800 million to $1.8 billion-and it now has the highest tax burden in the country. In addition to county government, Westchester has 43 city, town and village governments; 46 school districts; and 339 special districts, totaling 383 separate taxing districts.