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 Yonkers, NY - Mayor Phil Amicone announced that he will veto the Fiscal Year 2010 Operating Budget that was sent to him by the City Council three weeks late, citing the severe impact the budget would have on public safety and quality of life throughout the city.
The budget, which would have included a 5.75% property tax increase, is markedly different than the one Amicone sent to the City Council and then revised more than two months ago. It would dramatically cut back on city services, most notably within the city's police department, eliminating some units and posts altogether.
"The City Council has made compromises in this budget with regard to the public's safety and welfare that I find completely unacceptable. They have made service cuts that will undoubtedly impact quality of life all across our city for the worse. I cannot in good conscience sign this budget into law," the mayor explained.
Municipal services most adversely affected by the City Council's budget cuts fall within the police department, which had $2.2 million-or 18%- slashed from its overtime budget. The overtime cuts would impact nearly every aspect of police operations including foot posts, neighborhood patrols, traffic details, anti-crime units, anti-drug units, and security at special events. Details follow.
- Elimination of the precinct Anti-Crime Units - 2 sergeants and 4 police officers
- Elimination of the Domestic Violence Unit - 4 police officers
- Unable to provide additional police coverage at special events
- Transfer two detectives to Field Services
- Reduction of Housing Unit police officer minimums
- Transfer a police officer from the Criminal ID Unit to late tour patrol
- Transfer a police officer from the Criminal ID Unit to early tour patrol
- Transfer a police officer from the NYSPIN Unit to late tour patrol
- Transfer two police officers from the Traffic Unit to patrol
- Transfer a sergeant to late tour Communications Division
- Transfer a sergeant from the Traffic Unit to Patrol
- Transfer a sergeant from the Housing Unit to Patrol
- Reduce minimum manning level in Detective Division by one detective
TOTAL POLICE CUTS: $2,200,000
The police department wasn't the only one cit hard by the City Council's budget. A 2% across-the-board cut to most city departments will result in many other citywide service reductions, some of which are listed below.
City Council Budget Cuts (non-public safety):
- Cut at least half of the community group funding through parks department
o Boy's & Girls Clubs (12 in total)
o My Sister's Place
o Yonkers Philharmonic
o African American Heritage Festival
o Youth Theater Interaction
o Puerto Rican / Hispanic Day Parade & Festival
o Untermeyer Performing Arts Council
o Cultural concerts (Italian, Irish, etc.)
o Youth programs (Global Basketball, Westchester Invaders, Runyon Heights, etc.)
o Recreational programs (Westside Tennis, Yonkers Kayak Club, etc.)
- $1.2 million cut to affordable housing projects
- Elimination of grant matches for senior citizen services
- Elimination of support services for internet-based city services
o Online cahier payments for city taxes, parking fines, violations, etc.
o Action Center / 311 Help Line
o GIS services (property / tax records)
- Delay in implementing court-ordered firefighter civil service examination
- Elimination of building department's 24-hour Heat & Oil Program
- Code enforcement reductions (litter, noise violations, consumer protection, etc.)
Mayor Amicone continued to assail the City Council budget, "These cuts would affect everything from youth programs to maintenance of public facilities. They would profoundly impact quality of life in Yonkers by impeding our ability to enforce city code requirements, construct new affordable housing and continue key economic development initiatives. These cuts are extremely shortsighted and would cause more damage to the city over the long term than the minimal savings they would produce in the short term."
The City Council failed to meet its City Charter mandated deadline to adopt a budget by June 1, finally passing a scaled back version of the budget three weeks late on June 20. The Council's delay and inaction has pushed the city to the brink since the budget must still be sent to the state comptroller for final certification.
The budget now goes back to the City Council for reconsideration. Five votes are needed to override a mayoral veto.
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