Spano travel, credit card expenses down

Like many Americans, Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano isn't using his plastic as often - he cut his taxpayer-funded credit-card expenses by thousands last year.

The county executive and members of his office - then Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz and chief adviser Susan Tolchin - spent $18,569.67 on county-issued credit-card purchases, cell phones and gas bills in 2008.

That's less than the nearly $34,000 the three spent in 2007.

"In 2008, there was a lot of things cut from the budget in every department, and the county executive is no exception," said Tolchin, now the deputy county executive following Schwartz's move to the governor's office. "Everything was looked at and everything was eliminated. We continue to do that this year."

All told, Tolchin said, the County Executive's Office slashed $13 million in 2008, which included some travel, meals and other expenses. read more...