The Board of Legislators' decision Monday night to hire a lawyer to fight plans by County Executive Robert P. Astorino to reduce spending on day care programs and transportation is the latest in a series of senseless, anti-taxpayer measures, Astorino asserted today.

"Apparently, most of the Democrats on the Board of Legislators have a very low regard for taxpayers and the professionals who manage Westchester County," Astorino said. "The Democrats refer to their decision as 'historic.' They are right – it is a historic waste of money."

He added, "Nobody likes to make cuts, but when you don't have money – and Westchester County is facing a $166 million deficit next year – the responsible thing to do is to find savings that allow you to protect services to the neediest. The commissioners of Transportation and Social Services did just that and the Democrats on the board have responded by hiring expensive, outside lawyers to sue the county to spend money it doesn't have. If anyone is wondering why Westchester residents pay the highest property taxes in the country, this is it."

As part of his ongoing cost-cutting measures to reduce next year's projected budget deficit, Astorino has announced plans to save $1.5 million in day care programs. Even with the change, the county will continue to spend $32 million on day care. Astorino had also proposed cutting the county's express bus to Manhattan. However, under a compromise agreement announced previously, this route will operate at least through the end of the year, after a fare increase and a more limited schedule are put in place.

The vote authorizing the hiring of outside counsel was 9-6, with two Democratic legislators joining the board's four Republican legislators in voting against the measure.

Legislator Jim Maisano, the minority leader, said. "This turns a policy dispute into a legal dispute. It is not good government and is a terrible disservice to the taxpayers of Westchester."  Similar statements came from Legislators Gordon A. Burrows, the minority whip, and John G. Testa.

"The Democrats could not prevail on these issues by force of argument. They now want to waste taxpayer money on a legal challenge," said Burrows.

Testa said, "The supermajority actually wants to spend taxpayer money to hire legal counsel to find a way to spend more taxpayer money to prevent the County Executive from saving taxpayer money. They always find a reason to attack every reasonable tax saving measure put forth by the administration."

Since March when he announced the county was facing a $166 million deficit for 2011, the county executive and his staff have met repeatedly with child-care advocates to solicit their ideas on how and where they would make cuts.

The current per child costs of day care provided by Westchester County is about $13,000 annually.

"Day care is tremendously important to working families," Astorino said. "But the current cost structure is not sustainable – $13,000 is roughly equivalent to an undergraduate's tuition and non-living expenses at SUNY. We need everyone involved in child care to come up with ideas to lower costs."