Westchester County is on a Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 fiscal year. Each November, County Executive Andy Spano releases a proposed budget for the county government for the next fiscal year. It is then up to the Board of Legislators to finalize a spending plan. The taxes are aportioned based on assessment data and trends in local communities.

Westchester is the only county in New York State with a AAA rating from all three rating services--a Triple Triple A. The Westchester County Budget Office serves as staff to the County Executive and the County Board of Legislators on budget issues. The department prepares the annual operating budgets and capital budgets for the county and its four water districts, 11 sewer districts and one refuse disposal district, as well as for Westchester Community College.

When people hear that Westchester taxes are high, they often wrongly blame the county government. County taxes actually account for between 15–18% of a total property tax bill. The remainder of taxes are levied by school districts and local governments. Westchester also shares its sales tax revenue with most local governments and school districts.