Fought for balanced budgets that invest
in our future and protect our tax dollars
Whether on the Rye City Council or in the Legislature, I’ve always been an independent voice when it comes to our tax dollars. As a small business owner, I’ve been willing to stand up and say no to proposals that don’t pass muster because Westchester County needs a balanced budget. We need stable, recurring revenue streams, reasonable spending levels, and can’t afford to borrow from tomorrow to pay for operating expenses today.
That’s why I voted against the County Budget last December. The hard truth is that the County Budget isn’t balanced and racks up enormous amounts of debt that our children and we will end up paying back with interest. A tax increase deferred still has to be paid eventually; under this administration, we’ve effectively used our County credit card to pay our rent, and that strategy won’t work any better for us than it would for irresponsible borrowers anywhere else. I refuse to pass the buck for tough choices, and will continue working to make our budget structurally balanced.
The results of our current approach are clear and disturbing. This reckless approach has led to a $56 million projected deficit for next fiscal year and repeated debt rating downgrades. Independent fiscal watchdogs agree that our reliance on “one shot,” non-recurring revenue and unprecedented borrowing are putting us on a dangerous budgetary path.
At the same time, it’s vital that we make necessary investments to support future growth. That’s why I voted to cut more than $10 million in wasteful spending and reinvest the savings in basic infrastructure needs. We can pay a little today by proactively tackling challenges before they become a crisis – or we can wait until foreseeable problems, like failing to abide by federal drinking water standards, blow up in our faces.
That’s why I voted against the County Budget last December. The hard truth is that the County Budget isn’t balanced and racks up enormous amounts of debt that our children and we will end up paying back with interest. A tax increase deferred still has to be paid eventually; under this administration, we’ve effectively used our County credit card to pay our rent, and that strategy won’t work any better for us than it would for irresponsible borrowers anywhere else. I refuse to pass the buck for tough choices, and will continue working to make our budget structurally balanced.
The results of our current approach are clear and disturbing. This reckless approach has led to a $56 million projected deficit for next fiscal year and repeated debt rating downgrades. Independent fiscal watchdogs agree that our reliance on “one shot,” non-recurring revenue and unprecedented borrowing are putting us on a dangerous budgetary path.
At the same time, it’s vital that we make necessary investments to support future growth. That’s why I voted to cut more than $10 million in wasteful spending and reinvest the savings in basic infrastructure needs. We can pay a little today by proactively tackling challenges before they become a crisis – or we can wait until foreseeable problems, like failing to abide by federal drinking water standards, blow up in our faces.
