Westchester Insider: Westchester County Legislator Ruth Walter 15th District: Term-End Report Highlights Legislative Accomplishments of the Past Two Terms.

 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

On December 17, we released the Term-End report on the Board of Legislators' activities since 2018. Highlights include the passing of an historic budget for 2022 that cut the property tax levy by $7 million, provided a $10.2 million increase for childcare and $50 million for affordable housing -- the largest single-year commitment of this sort in County history, and major expansion of the County's investment in infrastructure improvements for the 21st century.

The 2022 budget is the culmination of four years of hard work, disciplined choices, and creative thinking by the County Executive's administration and the Board of Legislators that rebuilt the County's reserve funds from an historic low of $65 million four years ago to an expected $300 million at the end of this year.

In addition, the Board’s legislative achievements regarding public health and economic initiatives in response to COVID-19, our commitment to climate change, improvements to County parks, strengthening of government ethics and diversity policies, police reform, and increasing transparency in the co-op market are outlined in the report.

The last four years have been historic and consequential for this Board. As Westchester County elected officials, our greatest responsibility is to work towards a County that is improved in every way from the one we inherit. When people look back on the last four years, they will see that we have done that, and more.

We have restored the County's financial health; passed historic legislation to support Westchester's working families; taken action to respond to the climate crisis; invested in our roads, bridges and infrastructure; preserved and improved our parks and historic buildings; increased affordable housing access for thousands of seniors and working people; strengthened County government ethics and transparency; supported small businesses and consumers; embraced and protected Westchester's diversity; and confronted a once-in-a-century pandemic.

The Board's achievements during these historic times are the result of the committed, focused and collaborative work of all Legislators over the last four years, the outstanding work of the Board's dedicated staff, and the support and leadership of our partner in County government, County Executive George Latimer and his staff.

Read the report at: https://www.westchesterlegislators.com/images/pdf/2021Term-EndReport.pdf

Please forward this E-News to family and friends who may be interested in this information.

Sincerely,