Monday, May 4, 2026

Tariffs aren't a headline anymore — they're a line item for Westchester small businesses.

The average U.S. tariff rate on imports went from 2.6% to 13% across 2025. That is a five-fold increase in a single year. And the detail that matters most for anyone who owns a business or buys from one in this county: roughly 90% of that burden falls not on the countries being taxed — it falls on American businesses and American consumers.

Across the New York City metro area, which includes Westchester, businesses are absorbing an estimated $4.5 billion in tariff-related costs. For a Westchester restaurant owner paying more for imported ingredients and kitchen equipment, or a contractor absorbing higher lumber and copper prices, or a retailer holding prices to avoid losing customers — this is not a distant trade war. It is a line item.

Why it matters: On February 27, a roundtable at the Westchester County Center surfaced a consistent theme from business owners and economists alike: the volatility is as damaging as the rates. When tariff policy changes week to week, businesses cannot price jobs, lock in supply contracts, or plan capital purchases. The Business Council of Westchester's 2026 legislative agenda directly calls out the challenging fiscal environment, and Empire State Development has published a tariff resource guide for business owners trying to navigate it.

The deeper question heading into the second half of this year: the businesses most embedded in this county — without national supply chains or buying leverage — have largely been absorbing the hit quietly. That runway has limits.

Listen to the full story on all podcast platforms.

School Budget Vote: 15 Days Out
Every Westchester school district votes on Tuesday, May 19. Tomorrow's Brief walks through what is at stake — including which districts are near the state tax cap and what a rejected budget actually triggers. Worth knowing before you show up.

Franklin Courts Bonds Approved 16-0
The Westchester County Board of Legislators voted unanimously last week to issue $5,080,000 in bonds toward the $89 million redevelopment of Franklin Courts public housing in Tarrytown. The project, led by WBP Development, will demolish and rebuild the complex — going from 70 to 80 affordable units — over a three-year window.

State of the County: Wednesday Night
County Executive Ken Jenkins delivers his 2026 State of the County address this Wednesday, May 6 at 6:30 PM at the Michaelian Office Building in White Plains. Live stream at westchestercountyny.gov. Given the federal funding environment this year, it is worth your time.

BxM4C Bus Returns to Standard Fare May 18
The BxM4C express bus route serving Westchester commuters into Manhattan returns to its standard fare on Monday, May 18. The temporary adjustment was tied to an OMNY system configuration issue that has been resolved.

Quick question for this week: has your business or your employer changed anything because of tariffs in the last six months — pricing, suppliers, staffing? Hit reply and let me know. This is a story I want to keep pulling on.

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