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After Hurricane Sandy cost the village more than $250,000, sales tax revenues declined and other difficult financial hurdles highlighted 2012, Zegarelli said he is prepared for what lies ahead this year.
"Simply put, I'm expecting more pressure on making ends meet with less revenue," he said. "The economy is hurting, sales tax is down and mortgage tax hasn't been what we hoped."
Zegarelli said early 2012 numbers indicated the economy was going to take longer to recover and the village board was forced to modify its expectations last year.
"We cut back our estimates quite a bit so when we're meeting our estimates now, it's a bit lower than we really hoped for," he said. "We're hoping for a bump financially but if we don't get it, we are prepared."
The village itself should see a host of improvements and dozens of events to look forward to this year, Zegarelli said.
"On the financial side, it's tough but with everything else it's going to be very positive," he said. "We have a new ice skating rink and we're expecting the community center at the library should be complete this year. There are a lot of positives ahead for the village."
Zegarelli added he is expecting the recreation department to add many more events to its calendar in the coming year.
"We have a lot of projects in the hopper and I think we have a lot of positives going for this village right now," he said. "I think operationally and functionally we will do well. Hopefully that dark, gloomy shadow of financial difficulties that's effecting everyone in Westchester doesn't stay around for long."
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