Gov't we just can't afford

New York Post ^ | 12-08-10 | Rob Astorino

[NoKoolAidforMe]

If state and local governments are ever to get their budget deficits under control, they absolutely must address spending. The issue here is simply one of affordability. Westchester County has a skilled and dedicated work force that provides quality service 365 days a year. Unfortunately, the county can no longer afford it. It's too expensive -- in large measure because of union-contract-dictated health-care and pension packages that are beyond the wildest dreams of private-sector workers. Next year, the average cost of a Westchester County worker will be $117,000. The scariest part is that fringe benefits -- mostly health care and pension costs -- will come in at 55 percent of salary. In contrast, the cost of fringe benefits for UAW workers at General Motors before the company went bankrupt was 37 percent of salary. Is there any business in America -- or any level of government -- that can stay in business with these kinds of costs? Faced with this unsustainable expense spiral, only one choice remains if you take gimmicks and one-shots off the table: Workers must agree to become cheaper -- or there will have to be fewer of them. Let's be clear: More revenue (that is, taxes) won't solve the problem. Westchester already has had the dubious distinction of having the highest property taxes in America for three years in a row -- 2007-09. Taxes just can't be raised fast enough to keep up with ever-escalating spending, propelled largely by union-contract wage hikes, step increases, longevity payments, free health care, sick-day cash outs, vacation-day carryovers, pension expenses and retirement benefits for our 5,000-plus current employees and roughly 4,000 retirees. Economic realities dictate that we adapt or perish. p>

[NoKoolAidforMe]

Great letter to the editor by Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.

He was elected last year in a county where democrats outnumber republicans 2 to 1. He just submitted his 2011 budget which actually cuts spending, and the leftists are in full attack mode.

Westchester county is a New York suburb just north of New York City.

[Jim W N]

Gov't we just can't afford and don't want.

[blackdog]

I used to work in Pleasantville, Valhalla, and lived in a motel there because the property taxes were in the $10,000 per year range. That was in 1987.

I drove home on weekends.

The idea sold on that by realtors is that it kept the undesireables out. City workers rake your leaves and vacum them up in pleasantville, but that sure is not worth $10,000 per year!