Yonkers, NY

Mayor said he will veto the 2010 operating budget, because the severe impacton public safety and quality of life. The budget, which would have included a 5.75% property tax increase, It would cut cities services, most notably within the city's police department, eliminating some units and posts altogether.

Municipal services most adversely affected by the City Council's budget cuts fall within the police department, which had $2.2 million-or 18%-slashed from its overtime budget. The overtime cuts would impact nearly every aspect of police operations including foot posts, neighborhood patrols, traffic details, anti-crime units, anti-drug units, and security at special events. Details follow.

• Elimination of the precinct Anti-Crime Units - 2 sergeants and 4 police officers
• Elimination of the Domestic Violence Unit - 4 police officers
• Unable to provide additional police coverage at special events
• Transfer two detectives to Field Services
• Reduction of Housing Unit police officer minimums
• Transfer a police officer from the Criminal ID Unit to late tour patrol
• Transfer a police officer from the Criminal ID Unit to early tour patrol
• Transfer a police officer from the NYSPIN Unit to late tour patrol
• Transfer two police officers from the Traffic Unit to patrol
• Transfer a sergeant to late tour Communications Division
• Transfer a sergeant from the Traffic Unit to Patrol
• Transfer a sergeant from the Housing Unit to Patrol
• Reduce minimum manning level in Detective Division by one detective

TOTAL POLICE CUTS: $2,200,000

The police department wasn't the only one hit hard by the City Council's budget. A 2% across-the-board cut to most city departments will result in many other citywide service reductions, some of which are listed below.

City Council Budget Cuts (non-public safety):

• Cut at least half of the community group funding through parks department
  • Boy's & Girls Clubs (12 in total)
  • My Sister's Place
  • Yonkers Philharmonic
  • African American Heritage Festival
  • Youth Theater Interaction
  • Puerto Rican / Hispanic Day Parade & Festival
  • Untermeyer Performing Arts Council
  • Cultural concerts (Italian, Irish, etc.)
  • Youth programs (Global Basketball, Westchester Invaders, Runyon Heights, etc.)
  • Recreational programs (Westside Tennis, Yonkers Kayak Club, etc.)
• $1.2 million cut to affordable housing projects
• Elimination of grant matches for senior citizen services
• Elimination of support services for internet-based city services
  • Online cahier payments for city taxes, parking fines, violations, etc.
  • Action Center / 311 Help Line
  • GIS services (property / tax records)
• Delay in implementing court-ordered firefighter civil service examination
• Elimination of building department's 24-hour Heat & Oil Program
• Code enforcement reductions (litter, noise violations, consumer protection, etc.)

They would profoundly impact quality of life in Yonkers by impeding our ability to enforce city code requirements, construct new affordable housing and continue key economic development initiatives. These cuts are extremely shortsighted and would cause more damage to the city over the long term than the minimal savings they would produce in the short term."

The City Council failed to meet its City Charter mandated deadline to adopt a budget by June 1, finally passing a scaled back version of the budget three weeks late on June 20. The Council's delay and inaction has pushed the city to the brink since the budget must still be sent to the state comptroller for final certification.

The budget now goes back to the City Council for reconsideration. Five votes are needed to override a mayoral veto.

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Proposed 7.8% property tax increase will help preserve city services

There is an proposed 7.8% property tax increase that will help preservce city services and get the deficit as well. In the spending plan for $903.3 millions , 1.18% total increase in spending over last years's . The major is trying to avoid several hundred jobs cut crucial city and school programs.

"We're in a recession and just as families and businesses across Yonkers are doing, we had to find ways to cut back and we have. Yonkers now has a balanced budget, but it's one that avoids the kind of cuts in education and other services that would have decimated this city," Amicone said at his budget briefing to members of the City Council at City Hall on Wednesday.

Here are the Budget Highligts.

• $903.3 million total budget (1.18 % increase over FY 2009)
  • $419.2 million municipal budget (1.95% increase over FY 2009)
  • $484 million public school budget (0.52% increase over FY 2009)
• $105.7 million projected budget gap closed
• No layoffs and no further reductions to core city or school services
• Eliminates 11 vacant positions: smaller workforce than in 2004
• Lowest total and percentage spending increase in last six years
• Discretionary spending reduced by 5.6%, nearly $1 million
• Includes funding for new class of 50 police officers to fill retirement vacancies
• Includes funding for new class of 25 firefighters to fill retirement vacancies
• Proposed 7.8% increase in property taxes (avg. increase of $552 per homeowner)

Deficit Reduction Summary:

Bottom line the major is again going after Yonkers property taxes. The mayor is also contribution to the Yonkers public schools for 218.8 Millions,more per student ($ 9, 061) than any other large city in New York State.