Community weighs in on proposed 2026 Westchester County budget
Dozens gathered in Pelham Wednesday for a public input session on Westchester County's proposed budget for next year.
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Dozens gathered in Pelham Wednesday for a public input session on Westchester County's proposed budget for next year.
It's the second session to happen.
The proposed $2.5 billion budget cuts almost all county department budgets by 8%. County Executive Ken Jenkins has said this budget process reflects an "extraordinarily difficult year."
Wednesday coverage
"We are operating in a moment of unprecedented uncertainty driven by the Trump Administration’s decisions beyond our control. Federal cuts, shifting aid formulas and tariffs have created instability in local planning in a way we have not seen in recent memory. There’s no way to sugarcoat it, this is simply the reality of this moment — and we are committed to leading through it with transparency, partnership and integrity," Jenkins previously said.
Officials have said this proposed budget includes some "tough but necessary" decisions.
It includes a property tax levy increase of 5.27%.
Members of nonprofit organizations spoke during the most recent input session. Some said cuts at the federal level are also trickling down to them. Many of them stressed how important it is for them to maintain their current funding from the county.
"We recognize that there is unprecedented stress on the local government. The county is critical to our budget. With those dollars we get from the county, allow us to purchase the things that we need to have new. We need to have socks, we need to have underwear," says Deborah Blatt, who is the founder of The Sharing Shelf.
A public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 3.
