Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino has unveiled his first budget for 2011.
The new plan, which calls for tax cuts and job layoffs, is Astorino's first budget of his own since replacing Democratic predecessor Andy Spano. Astorino claims Spano's budget left him with a $166 million deficit.
When announcing his nearly $1.8 billion spending plan for next year, Astorino said the tax levy will not increase and that he plans on dropping it by a percentage point. "We are making the tough decisions and we are going to attack the spending," he said.
While Astorino says he will drop the tax levy, he is also eliminating 700 jobs. Some of those workers left earlier this year through early retirement and buyouts.
Among the most prominent cuts is staffing for the county's Human Rights Commission, two county pools and mental health facilities.