The Westchester Brief | 05.12.26: The Trump Tax Is Real. So Is Everything It's Hiding.

Send us Fan MailWestchester County's 2026 budget has a name: Ken Jenkins is calling the 5.27 percent property tax increase the Trump Tax. And on the mechanics, he's right — federal funding uncertainty, shifting aid formulas, and tariff costs created a $197 million gap the county could not absorb without raising taxes and cutting services.Today's Brief examines what the federal framing gets right and what it obscures. The budget eliminates 180 county positions — roughly five percent of the workforce. It imposes eight percent cuts on nearly every department. And it sets a baseline for a county facing potential losses of up to $700 million in state and federal aid in 2027. The $60 average annual tax increase is modest in isolation. It is not modest in context.In This Episode:(0:00) Cold open(0:25) What the 2026 budget actually contains(1:45) The federal framing: what's accurate and what's convenient(2:30) The 180 eliminated positions — the underreported story(3:15) The 2027 $700M exposure(4:00) Quick HitsSources: Westchester County Executive budget press releases | Yonkers Times | cicbca.orgSupport the showI Live Here Westchester is a production of I Live Here Media.We spotlight the voices, visionaries, and stories that make Westchester County more than just a place to live—it’s a place to belong.Have a guest suggestion or want to partner with us?Email: [email protected]: www.iliveheremedia.comFollow us on Instagram: @iliveheremediaSubscribe, rate, and share to support local storytelling.