WHITE PLAINS – Outgoing Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano Monday unveiled a $1.8 billion budget for 2010 that would increase property taxes by 4.9 percent and cut 37 positions, three of which are filled.

The Democrat who lost in this month’s election to Republican Rob Astorino, said with reduced income and rising expenses, he must make up $121 million in funding.

Astorino, though, said a tax increase of that magnitude is unacceptable to county residents.

The cut in jobs will save $2.4 million. Spano is also including only one month funding for nine positions in the county executive’s office and five deputy commissioners, for a savings of $1.5 million.

He is also calling for a five-day unpaid furlough for all employees except elected officials and county legislators, public safety, correction and criminal investigators, for a savings of $5.5 million. There are also no pay increases for commissioners, directors and non-represented management.

He eliminated the county executive’s security detail; no tax levy dollars for Playland, no cuts to contract agencies, an increase of $4.7 million to the Department of Labs and Research by maximizing the fee structure; ending the county’s subsidy to Westchester Medical Center for a $12.5 million savings; and merging the departments of Health and Community Health.

Astorino said he was disappointed in Spano’s budget which includes “a sizable tax increase.”

Astorino said families cannot afford high taxes. The almost five percent tax increase is “unacceptable to the public,” he said.

“Part of the problem is the budget process itself. An outgoing County Executive should not be proposing a budget with no accountability for the result,” Astorino said. “As I said during my campaign, budgets should be submitted in October to allow full, line-by-line scrutiny prior to Election Day."