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Public Works highlights tree planting, EV fleet growth and a sharp rise in County tipping fees
Summary
Commissioner Mignone told the council the public works proposed budget focuses on personnel and maintenance, cites a roughly 35% increase in Westchester County organic/solid‑waste tipping fees and lists capital and sustainability projects including added trees, a new pavilion and expanded EVs and Big Belly trash compactors.
Commissioner Mignone presented the Department of Public Works budget overview on April 22, saying the department is funded through three sources: the general fund (187 employees), the water fund (28) and the sewer fund (7), for a total of 222 funded positions.
Mignone said roughly 75% of the department’s operating budget is salaries and benefits and that the department’s total operating budget is about $36 million with roughly $4.3 million in revenue. He highlighted two large recurring revenue sources: rent from the Westchester County transfer station (about $710,000) and solar rent (about $940,000).
Tipping fees and budget impacts Mignone told the council Westchester County increased solid‑waste and organic tipping fees by about 35% in the current year and described that as an unexpected cost that affected roughly half of the fiscal year. He said the department factored the higher tipping fees into planning for next year’s budget.
Infrastructure, sustainability and operations Mignone listed departmental achievements and projects, including planting about 350 trees this year (200 added this season), installing an accessible swing and pavilion at Delfino Park, a new Slater Center playground, a pavement‑assessment program to rate every road in the city, and resurfacing about 20 lane miles of roads. He said the city now operates 20 electric vehicles in the municipal fleet and plans to add five more.
Grants and constraints Mignone said the city received an urban forestry federal grant but has been notified not to spend further funds while the federal agency reviews the award; he said training and hiring tied to the grant were affected. He also noted supply‑chain delays, tariff impacts, delivery delays and employee retention pressure as ongoing budgetary risks.
Council questions Councilwoman Puzna asked what the department is doing to manage the listed budget impacts; Mignone said staff maintain frequent vendor contact, pursue grants, and work with purchasing to mitigate delays and component shortages, particularly for electric vehicles. Councilman Martin asked how the tipping‑fee increase was reflected in the budget; Mignone said it affected about half the year and the department accounted for it in the next year’s figures.
Ending: Mignone closed by saying the department will continue to track supply issues and pursue grant funding while managing core maintenance and capital needs.
