Westchester County Executive Andy Spano has proposed his new budget plan that will include higher taxes for homeowners.

Spano is defending his 2007 budget by claiming the increase could have been much worse. The increase in taxes will be around 3.9 percent. Spano says that is less than the rate of inflation. Because of the tax equalization formula some communities may see an increase, while others will see a decrease or stay the same.

Spano says the county is in good shape fiscally and hopes there won?t be many more increases in taxes in the future. The county board budget chairman says he expects the budget to pass intact.

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