Joint Westchester County Litigation and Budget & Appropriations Committee Meeting, June 8, 2026

The Litigation and Budget & Appropriations Committees met jointly on Monday, June 8, 2026, from 10:15 AM to 12:02 PM. Legislators approved a surety litigation retainer, multiple bond acts, a regional emergency services partnership, a youth grant, and received the first-quarter budget report. All votes were unanimous unless otherwise noted.

Consent Calendar

• The Litigation Committee minutes of May 26, 2026, were approved unanimously.
• Various committee minutes from May 18 and May 26, 2026, were approved for Budget & Appropriations and other committees.

Discussion Items

Item 2026-263 – Sheppard Mullin Retainer for NGM Insurance Surety Dispute

• The agenda lists this item as 2026-263; the minutes reference ACT-2026-131.
• Senior Assistant County Attorney Mark Gardner said the County is disputing a surety’s failure to pay a claim under DPW&T Contract No. 18-503.
• Ira Schulman of Sheppard Mullin, who has worked with the County for many years, said he had a preliminary call with surety counsel and believed progress could be made quickly.
• Chairman Imamura thanked Schulman for his successful work for the County and for providing a heavily discounted rate; the transcript mentions a roughly 70% discount.
• Legislator Barr asked about the County’s responsible bidder law and whether the County could stop working with a surety acting in bad faith. Schulman responded that the County was not at that point, and he would report back in 30 to 45 days.
• The item was signed by committee and referred to the Board of Legislators unanimously.

Item 2026-264 – Various County Road Rehabilitation Bond Act

• The County requested $11,805,000 for design, construction management, and construction on four road segments: Theodore Friend Avenue (Harrison), Anderson Hill Road (Harrison), Aqueduct Road (White Plains), and Long Ridge Road (Bedford).
• Work includes milling and resurfacing, drainage repairs, traffic loops, pavement markings, and related paving work.
• Reported pavement condition indices ranged from 51 to 73, and average annual daily traffic ranged from 6,248 to 13,698 vehicles.
• The Deputy Commissioner estimated design and construction each averaging about nine months.
• Legislators asked about school bus season, traffic disruptions, and coordination with Con Edison and the state DOT; staff said flaggers would handle one lane at a time and noted a recent state DOT presentation of $146 million in paving projects in Westchester.
• The item passed unanimously.

Item 2026-266 – Youth Bureau Grant Program

• Director McFadden presented the seventh year of a state Office of Children and Family Services grant for youth healthy relationships and employment programs.
• The program includes a classroom component on boundaries, consent, and character development, plus an employment component teaching punctuality, teamwork, and critical thinking.
• About 105 to 110 young people are served annually, roughly 60% female and 40% male, ages 11 to 18, with approximately a 90% classroom completion rate.
• Each municipality contributes about $32,000 and the classroom provider receives $25,000; there is no cost to the County.
• Legislator Alvarado expressed strong support, saying the program prepares youth to be competent and ready for work. Other legislators also praised the program and asked about expanding it to additional municipalities.
• The item passed unanimously.

Item 2026-271 – Information Technology Upgrades Bond Act

• The County requested bond authorization for the second year of a five-year IT capital plan, covering laptop and desktop replacement, data storage enhancements, and data center equipment.
• Staff said there are no new recurring maintenance or licensing costs associated with these upgrades; warranty purchases are intended to extend the life of storage systems.
• Legislators noted that the District Attorney’s office had not received a major laptop purchase since the COVID-era purchases.
• The item passed unanimously.

Item 2026-272 – Regional Partnership Agreement with Putnam County

• Commissioner Spear and Deputy Chief Chris Johnson presented a request to authorize a partnership with Putnam County to accept $100,000 in state funding through the FY23 Technical Rescue and Urban Search and Rescue Assets Grant Program.
• This was a competitive grant; Westchester received the maximum award and the largest grant in the state.
• Funding would support technical rescue teams for structural collapse, trench rescue, swift water rescue, rope rescue, and wilderness search and rescue. Planned purchases include rescue rope, harnesses, fall arrest equipment, PPE, battery-powered tools, and structural evaluation transits.
• Commissioner Spear said the partnership improves interoperability, avoids duplication, and supports mutual aid; the funding is not retroactive.
• Legislators also discussed fire safety outreach, particularly after recent fatal home fires. Legislator Smith urged the administration to create and distribute simple fire safety graphics, including about overloaded power strips. Commissioner Spear said the department is working on messaging for schools, senior centers, and municipalities.
• The item passed unanimously.

Item 2026-273 – Replacement Laboratory Equipment Bond Act

• The County requested $550,000 to replace 13 pieces of laboratory equipment used for public health testing, environmental monitoring, forensic investigations, medical examiner operations, and regulatory compliance.
• Administrator Hoffman described each item, including a biochemical oxygen demand analyzer, microwave digestion system, segmented flow analyzers, BOD incubators, an ultra-pure water system, a purge trap concentrator, a nitrogen generator, explosion-proof refrigerators, a real-time PCR system for DNA testing, a trace evidence analysis unit, and sample evaporators.
• Many existing units are 15 to 21 years old, beyond expected useful life, or unsupported by manufacturers.
• Staff said the replacements would be completed before the end of the year and no supply-chain delays were anticipated.
• Legislators recommended noting “life safety” and “energy efficiency” benefits on capital project forms. The item passed unanimously.

First Quarter Budget & Appropriations Report

• Budget Director Larry Snow presented the first-quarter forecast and year-end projections.
• Economic highlights included elevated fuel prices, with WTI over $100 per barrel at one point, continued high mortgage rates, and a “K-shaped” economy where asset owners benefit while middle- and lower-income households struggle.
• Sales tax, over 40% of revenues, was held flat to budget; healthcare benefits were forecast up $9.3 million net, offset by $4.4 million in prescription drug rebates.
• Child care subsidies were projected to run a deficit, with 500 to 600 families on a waitlist; the County expected $12–14 million in federal child care funding, pending official numbers.
• Bus operating assistance was lowered due to lower farebox collections. Staff reported fare evasion around 40%, with estimated losses near $1 million per month, and OmniCard sales below projections. Cash fare boxes were expected to be installed by July 1.
• Enforcement of fare evasion was discussed, including the possibility of $1.4 million in additional police overtime; legislators asked for a future committee meeting with the involved departments.
• State operating transportation assistance increased by 7.4%, about $5 million above budget.
• The County projected $1.7 million in vacancy savings; the 2025 year-end operating surplus was $4.2 million, leaving fund balance at roughly 21% of operating expenditures.
• The County maintains triple-A ratings from S&P and Fitch and an AA1 from Moody’s; the report was received and filed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• All discussion items were approved by the joint committees and referred to the full Board of Legislators.
• The first-quarter budget report was received and filed.
• Staff committed to follow-up reports, including a 30-to-45-day update on the surety dispute, further fare-enforcement discussions, and continued fire-safety outreach.