Westchester: We’re left out
 Westchester County is the highest taxed county in the nation according to a recent study. So when the N.Y. State Legislature put the finishing touches on a state budget Sunday, why did Westchester receive a paltry amount of aid for so-called “high tax’’ counties?
Politics. More specifically, the lack of Republican in the GOP-controlled Senate meant that Westchester effectively was bypassed while other New York metro counties gobbled up large chunks of supplementary aid. For instance, more->
Nassau County, which ranked No. 2 on the national tax survey, got $31 million in “high-tax aid’’ for its schools. Suffolk got $39.5 million. Westchester got $1.6 million.
That paled in comparison to even some neighboring, less-populated counties: Putnam ($2.5 million), Orange ($10 million) Dutchess ($4 million). (Rockland received $922,000).
Legislators, even Democrats, said it was clear that when Westchester’s lone Republican seantor, Nick Spano of Yonkers, lost last year to Andrea Stewart Cousins the county lost clout in the partisan Senate.
“I think it’s fair to say that when you look at where the `high-tax aid’ went … that having a Republican senator was tremendously important,’’ said Assemblyman Adam Bradley, D-White Plains.
The entire Westcheser Assembly delegation voted against the education portion of the budget. The Democrats fired off a letter to Gov. Spitzer asking for a meeting to discuss “immediate remedies’’ to what they called a “bizarre and unfair outcome.’‘
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To all the idiot Republicans & Democrats on this website who were happy Nick Spano lost:
Enjoy paying even higher property taxes this year! Stewart-Cousins proved to be a total lightweight (not a surprise, she was just as bad on County Legislature). She did nothing to challenge her buddy Spitzer to protect Westchester’s taxpayers. Westchester lost its sole voice in State Senate when Nick Spano lost. Nick protected State aid to our school districts and local governments for the past decade. You may not have always agreed with the guy’s style, but he was a real pro in State Legislative battles, and Nick brought home large pots of money to his district and even to other communities in Westchester County and to the County government. Be careful what you wish for – all you Stewart-Cousins supporters actually advocated a point of view that directly led to higher property taxes for Westchester – nice going!
because Joe Bruno is not just a crook, he’s a thug, and Long Island runs the state GOP now.
I’m sure Jereis is bummed out also!
um… Vincent Leibell also represents westchester…
Anyone want to correct the story?
http://www.nyssenate40.com/district_map.asp
You are correct, Vincent Leibell did a great job for his district which included Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties. Maybe the Senators from lower Westchester did not get the job, but Senator Leibell did as he always does, he produced for his constituents.