Here's how Westchester County plans to tackle rising inflation costs

Westchester County is set to take on measures to ease inflation costs for residents, ranging from doubling spending on food pantries, to a proposal that would eliminate the sales tax on home energy costs this winter.

County Executive George Latimer made the announcement Monday as inflation hit a 40-year high, with prices surging for groceries, gas and rent across the U.S.

While the measures encompass a variety of factors from pools, to county-owned Metro-North parking lots, Latimer said the county is taking the measures it can.

“The moment that we’re in is one where economic concerns are great,” he said in a daily briefing. “We want to show that we’re responding to it. We’re not ignoring it. We’re not wishing that it would go away.”

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The county will increase funding to the Feeding Westchester food bank by $700,000. This doubles spending that the 2022 budget allocated, in order to address food costs that have risen 18% for Feeding Westchester pantries, Latimer added. By poundage, Feeding Westchester saw an 11-cent increase per pound of food provided compared to the previous year – from 60 cents to 71 cents.

The doubled funds are expected to feed more than 880,000 people, with savings around $60 for a family of four that pays $240 per month on groceries.

Meanwhile, the county plans to propose eliminating a sales tax on residential energy costs during winter months.

The county can amend sales taxes on a quarterly basis, with caveats, Latimer said. County legislators must adopt a local law, then notify the state Department of Tax and Finance within 90 days of implementing it. That means Sept. 1, the start of the next fiscal quarter, is not feasible. The proposal calls to eliminate the sales tax for homeowners and renters effective Dec. 1, the start of the heating season and the fiscal quarter.

If passed, the measure would cost the county about $18 million. Joan McDonald, the director of operations, said the county is in “solid financial footing” to enact the measures.

Board of Legislators Chairwoman Catherine Borgia said she hadn't yet seen the proposal to eliminate the residential energy sales tax in detail, but supported the concept.

"These are things that are one small way we can help families," said Legislator Vedat Gashi, who chairs the Budget and Appropriations Committee, of the measures announced Monday. "If we can, that's something we should be doing, always be doing."

The measures also include waiving costs at county commuter parking lots in North White Plains and at County Center, which serve Metro-North riders, through July and August. The fiscal cost is estimated to be $125,000.

This comes after the county capped its sales tax on gas to 12 cents per gallon through August. Additionally, Bee-Line buses are free until Labor Day.

Lastly, Latimer said the county would waive fees for civil service exams meant for government jobs throughout 2022. The Parks Department will also make pools free for county residents Mondays through Thursdays from July 5 to Aug. 31. The county’s four pools opened last Friday.

Still, officials pointed to changes needed by state and federal governments to provide additional savings to residents hard-hit at pumps or grocery stores.

Westchester can address rising prices only so much, Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins said.

“We can’t control the price of oil,” he said. “No matter how much we can cut the taxes, it does not impact people as much as it should.”

USA Today contributed to this report.

Eduardo Cuevas covers diversity, equity and inclusion in Westchester and Rockland counties. He can be reached at EMCuevas1@lohud.com and followed on Twitter @eduardomcuevas.