Westchester property taxes fund $1.4 million in economic development spending

Your property tax bill is about to help pay for office space, staff and a World Cup watch party — here's where nearly $1.4 million in Westchester spending is headed this year.

The county's Board of Acquisition and Contract unanimously approved a batch of agreements Thursday, including nearly $1.4 million in support services for two economic development agencies, all drawn from the county operating budget funded partly by property taxes in towns like Bronxville, Scarsdale and Eastchester.

Here's where the $1.4 million is going:

• $1,052,789 to the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency for office space, staff and support through 2026
• $343,726 to the Westchester County Local Development Corporation for the same kind of support

Both deals are retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026.

The board also extended its Business FIRST program through March 2027 at no extra cost. Community Capital New York, the Elmsford nonprofit that runs it, gave 9,350 hours of free business advice to 1,205 clients last year, grew its lending by 52%, and helped create 240 jobs, according to its own reporting. The group offers microloans up to $50,000 and SBA loans up to $350,000, paired with free coaching.

The board approved R&J Tree Service, a minority-owned Brewster company, as a subcontractor on the Bronx River Pathway Reconstruction project. The roughly $7.5 million project will rebuild five miles of pathway from Kensico Dam Plaza to Greenacres Avenue, replacing three pedestrian bridges and rehabbing five more.

A few other things got the green light, too:

• The Hayes Initiative will pay the county $175,000 to host a World Cup Watch Experience at Kensico Dam Plaza on July 19.
• A five-year, $13.9 million janitorial contract for the Daronco Courthouse in White Plains.
• A $90,000 ethics counsel agreement.

Every item passed unanimously. The next Board of Acquisition and Contract meeting hasn't been scheduled, but records are available here.