State Senate candidate Anthony Merante
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Mayor Mike Spano are taking a victory lap over more than $189 million in state funding for Yonkers and Yonkers Public Schools. Anthony J. Merante says taxpayers should be angry, not applauding.
“If Albany is sending Yonkers all this money, why are Yonkers taxpayers still getting hit with another tax increase?” Merante said. “The numbers do not add up.”
Yonkers adopted a $1.64 billion FY 2026-2027 budget with a 4.75% tax rate increase. Mayor Spano had originally proposed a 5.25% increase. Either way they exceeded the state’s 2% tax cap. The “Spanocrats” on the City Council were so proud to reduce the increase by .5%. Big Deal!
“This is the Yonkers shell game,” Merante said. “Albany sends money. City Hall spends money. Taxes go up. Fees go up. Water bills go up. And taxpayers are told to be grateful.”
Merante, a Yonkers CPA, former 6th District Councilmember, and candidate for the 35th State Senate District, said the issue is not whether schools need support. The issue is accountability.
“Our schools need funding, but do not use the schools as a political shield for bad budgeting,” Merante said. “When hundreds of millions of dollars come into Yonkers and taxes still go up, taxpayers deserve to know where every dollar went.”
Merante said Yonkers families, seniors, homeowners, and small businesses are being treated like an endless ATM.
“Enough is enough,” Merante said. “Yonkers needs a full accounting, as well as the one-party State government, not another press conference. We need to open both books, follow the money, and stop forcing taxpayers to pay for wasteful spending and political patronage .”
Merante said stronger oversight should be on the table if City Hall cannot control spending.
“If Yonkers cannot get its financial house in order, then serious state oversight may be needed,” Merante said. “Taxpayers need protection from a government that keeps spending first and billing homeowners later.”
That is why Yonkers needs a State Senator who will fight for taxpayers, not protect the Albany and Yonkers Democratic political machine.”
About Anthony J. Merante
Anthony is currently running as the Republican candidate for New York State Senate in the 35th District. He is committed to standing up for taxpayers, seniors, homeowners, renters, and working families who want a government that serves the people—not political insiders.
Anthony J. Merante is a Certified Public Accountant, a local businessman and former Yonkers City Councilmember. A lifelong advocate for taxpayers and local communities, he served as president of the Sprain Lake Knolls Civic Association before being elected to the Yonkers City Council in 2017, where he served two terms representing the 6th District.
During his eight years on the Council, Merante earned a reputation as an independent voice who opposed tax increases and fought to protect neighborhoods from overdevelopment. He and his wife, Yolanda, have two children and deep roots in the Yonkers community.
Learn more www. https://meranteforsenate.com
