The following press release was received by the Gazette and is reprinted here without editing or comment.

LATIMER TO TAKE 10% PAY CUT IN 2003

Press Release

(November 7, 2002 ) The 2003 Westchester County Budget, scheduled for release in mid-November, will require significant program cuts and a possible major tax increase to balance revenues and expenses - and Legislator George Latimer (D-7th District) has made the first move to cut county expenses - taking a voluntary 10% pay cut in his Legislative salary.

"Difficult times demand difficult choices", Latimer said, "and the 2003 budget will, indeed, be difficult. There may be real pain in cutting expenses, and I believe in everyone sharing the pain - beginning with us". Latimer will voluntarily accept a 10% pay cut - equal to $4,300 - for FY 2003 in his legislative salary. "In absolute dollars, it is a small step toward closing a $100 million gap between revenues and expenses... but we must lead the way as elected officials".

The projected budget will include $35 million more than in 2002 for
Medicaid spending, and $15 million in contribution to the State
Retirement fund - two of many State mandates that the County must pay. Most mandated programs - well over half of the County budget - cannot be legally reduced by the County legislature, leaving only "discretionary" services such as buses, park, police, senior services which fall beyond the State mandates.

"I don't practice the blame game" said Latimer, "but there are
structural problems also faced by NYC, Nassau County, Monroe County, Broome County and counties all across NY State - and Westchester cannot wish them away". The budget gap can be closed by severe budget cuts, additional sales tax revenue (which requires State approval) or a hike in the property tax. "No one wants to raise taxes - I have voted to cut property taxes 4 of the last 6 years. But we must balance our budget", Latimer concluded.

Proposed budget cuts may affect bus routes such as commuter loops such as #76 in Rye and #70 and #71 in Larchmont and Mamaroneck; closing hours of nature preserves such as Read Sanctuary and Marshlands, and many other impacts. "The possible cuts needed to make up $100 million could cause great distress for our neighbors", Latimer noted. "And a huge property tax increase is equally unacceptable".

Latimer, serving his 11th year as Legislator, previously served 4 years as Chairman of the Board of Legislators. His district covers all of Rye, Larchmont, Mamaroneck and part of New Rochelle.

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