Talk of Possible Buchanan Police Merger with County Surfaces
Could Westchester County be looking to consolidate police services with the Village of Buchanan as it has in the past with the towns of Cortlandt and Ossining and the Village of Mount Kisco?
Westchester County Executive George Latimer made reference to that potential partnership during an appearance at a Westchester County Association (WCA) breakfast in Tarrytown last Thursday where he talked about shared services the county has partnered with other communities.
“We’re right now engaged in dialogue with the Village of Buchanan in light of what will happen with Indian Point’s closure,” Latimer said. “Buchanan is the most impacted government in the county by far and we’re engaged with them to see where we can find shared services that would be helpful to the citizens and the government of Buchanan.”
In January 2017, Entergy, which purchased the Indian Point nuclear power plants in Buchanan more than 16 years ago, announced, to the complete surprise of local leaders, its plan for the early and orderly shutdown of Indian Point Energy Center by April 30, 2021 as part of a settlement with New York State and Riverkeeper. In exchange, New York State agreed to drop its legal challenges and support renewal of the operating licenses for the facility.
Since that time, a local Community Unity Task Force has been established and meeting regularly to address the property tax implications of Indian Point’s departure, along with the loss of approximately 1,100 jobs and the future use of the 240-acre site in Buchanan.
The Village of Buchanan stands to lose 46% ($4 million) of its operating budget, while the Hendrick Hudson School District will lose $24 million annually (33% of its budget). Others affected are: Cortlandt ($800,000), Westchester County ($1 million), Hendrick Hudson Free Library ($394,110, 28% of its budget) and the Verplanck Fire District ($372,703, 64% of its budget).
Buchanan Mayor Theresa Knickerbocker said Thursday Latimer and other county officials met with Buchanan decision-makers in December to discuss possible shared services but emphasized no formal negotiations have begun regarding the village’s five-member police force, which costs the village $1.8 million annually.
She also maintained the fate of the Buchanan Police Department was ultimately in the hands of the village’s 2,300 residents who would have to approve any merger with the county through a referendum.
“We can’t get rid of the Police Department unless the people want to,” Knickerbocker said. “Down the road, could that be an option? Could be. My preference is to keep everything the same. People like the services here. That’s what makes us special. But I think the option needs to be given about if we still want a Police Department.”
Knickerbocker said the results of a village-wide survey last year indicated residents favored keeping the current services in Buchanan, but she also noted with the potential of villages taxes doubling once revenue from Indian Point ends, all savings measures must be put on the table.
“I don’t think people realize the magnitude of what’s coming here,” Knickerbocker said. “We’re facing some challenges. In dealing with those challenges, we should really look at all options.”
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/