Westchester County will face a budget deficit of at least $166 million next year, and $355 million by 2013, unless officials "dramatically cut the costs of government," which could include hundreds of layoffs and cuts to social services, transportation and health care, County Executive Robert Astorino said Tuesday.

Previous projections estimated the 2011 budget deficit would be about $60 million.

Echoing promises he made on the campaign trail last year, Astorino said he will not raise taxes to close the budget gap. Last year, county officials passed a 2.9 percent tax rate increase to close a $120 million deficit.

"I know cuts are painful, but I will not close this hole by asking our overburdened taxpayers to come up with more money," he said. "Fixing our budget deficit will require changing the way we think about county government and the way we operate."

Astorino projects a drop in revenue of about $50 million next year, including decreases in federal and state aid. Sales tax revenue was expected to increase, but so far this year it's down 4 percent. Municipalities around the county have been experiencing a record number of grievances on property value assessments, meaning property tax revenue could be lower than expected as well.

He said there could be hundreds of layoffs, which would mean "a revamping and restructuring of county government." Officials in Astorino's office are already studying such a restructuring, he said. The average cost of a county employee is about $100,000, including salary and fringe benefits.

Officials at the Civil Service Employees Association chapter that represents 3,800 county workers were not available for comment Tuesday. 

Despite the severity of Astorino's announcement, several county officials played down the fiscal situation and accused the newly minted executive of taking advantage of the public's fear about the economy and government spending that has trickled down from Washington.

Astorino "has decided to base his management strategy on fear and manipulation," said County Board of Legislators Chairman Ken Jenkins, D-Yonkers. 

"Over the past two years, we have had mid-year state budget cuts and funding reductions from the federal government. The Administration [of Andrew Spano, Astorino's predecessor] managed those budget cuts without creating hysteria and fear," he said.

Astorino took a shot at Spano, saying that the deficit is not only a result of the economic recession, but of years of fiscal irresponsibility. He pointed out that since 2001, county spending and taxes have increased far faster than inflation. Spano, a Democrat, served three terms before being unseated by Astorino, a Republican, in an upset last fall.  

"Basically, we're looking at a structural problem. [The county] has used one-shots and rosy projections, and continually kicked the can down the road," Astorino said.

"The can can no longer be kicked."

Astorino said that he would unveil his budget proposal considerably sooner than the usual November deadline to give officials time to deliberate and make tough choices. He outlined a series of current proposals that could collectively save $16 million, including refinancing the county's long-term debt at lower interest rates and keeping vacant positions in public safety and information technology unfilled.

Other proposals include getting rid of the BxM4C express bus to Manhattan, opening Rye Playland one hour later each day, and closing the Croton Park Pool.

Long-term solutions could hurt even more. Astorino said he will ask union officials to agree to a 15 percent contribution to their county heath plan. A pay freeze next year could save $20.5 million, and an additional $23.8 million would be saved with a 5 percent decrease in workers' salaries. It's also likely that older workers will be offered incentives to retire early.  

One legislator accused Astorino of not bearing the same sacrifice he is asking others to make.

"I am concerned about his credibility in asking for sacrifice to control spending when he has already set the wrong example by increasing the salaries of his top aides," said County Board Majority Leader Tom Abinanti, D-Greenburgh.

In a tight vote last week, the Board approved $18,000 raises for two of Astorino's top officials, bringing their salaries up to $155,245. But Astorino said his office's payroll is $1.2 million less than that of Spano.

"We're sharing newspapers," he said, and his office has 28 employees compared to Spano's 42.