On Thursday, Nov. 9, the Board of Legislators (BOL) received the 2024 Operating Budget from the County Executive representing a total of $2.4 billion.
Continuing initiatives include: Health and Mental Health including Maternal Mortality ($1 million allocated), FQHC’s ($3 million to bolster Federally Qualified Health Centers in the area), Tobacco Cessation ($1.5 million), Telehealth for seniors ($300,000), Project Alliance ($5.6 million to continue the County’s partnership between mental health providers and public safety, Social Services ($1.3 million and a Childcare Scholarship program with expanded eligibility of
up to 500% FPL), Environmental Initiatives ($25 million) including EV Charging Infrastructure, Housing ($90-$100 million) including an Affordable Housing Investment Flex Fund, Economic Development and Tourism ($7.9 million) including the DIG (Downtown Improvement Grant, $1.5 million), Workforce
Training with WCA ($300,000), ARPA Funded Tourism ($2.1 million), and fully-funded Emergency Services and Public Safety ($77.7 million).
New initiatives for 2024 include: Planning for natural disasters, including a Flood, fire, and non-FEMA emergency recovery program, nonprofit funding to assist families during relocation ($300,000), Mental Health outpatient clinical expansion ($975,000), Housing programming, including a Landlord
Tenant Assistance Program to fund Housing Authorities for necessary repairs of rental properties ($7 million), Eviction Prevention Assistance, Emergency Services and Public Safety including the HERRO Scholarship Program (increased from $500,000 to $600,000), Correction, introducing a new class
of Correction officers, and Non-For-Profits ($5 million included for funding).
Board Chair Vedat Gashi said, “Approval of the budget is one of the most important things we do at the Board. We take this process incredibly seriously. We are prepared to begin the deliberative process. We are looking forward to coming together on the budget in the coming weeks.”
Board Vice Chair Nancy Barr said, “I am pleased to receive the Proposed 2024 Operating Budget on behalf of the Board of Legislators. Reviewing the budget and advocating for the programs we are passionate about is one of the most important responsibilities of the Board and we take it very seriously. We also look forward to public input at the three hearings we will have during this process. Ultimately, the Budget we vote on should reflect the best balance of needs, wants and sound fiscal policy that is possible for 2024 and beyond.”
Legislator Jewel Williams Johnson said, “As Chair of the Board’s Committee on Budget and Appropriation, I look forward to analyzing the budgets proposed for 2024 during our series of committee meetings with all the County Departments and wholeheartedly thank them for their efforts. In this climate of global uneasiness, we’ll review the budget with a lens focused on both fiscal stability and the values of the residents of Westchester. “
The Board of Legislators received the proposed Capital Budget for review from the County Executive on October 17 and is charged with passing the comprehensive County Budget by the end of December 2023.
The Board of Legislators will host two public input sessions within the County and one statutory public hearing at the Board of Legislators Chambers in White Plains. Participants are invited to speak and provide public comment at all scheduled dates with remote participation available via the county’s virtual
meeting platform at the White Plains meeting.
The details for the public input sessions/hearing are as follows:
Public Input Sessions (live streamed via Facebook):
Monday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, 480 North Bedford Rd., Chappaqua
Public Hearing (remote participationavailable):
Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. Board of Legislators Chambers, 148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor, White Plains
Information regarding the FY2024 budget deliberations can be viewed on the Budget Dashboard section of the BOL website. The dashboard will include relevant details such as the WebEx remote participation instructions, budget meeting schedule, and links to view the proposed operating, capital, and
special districts budgets.
