HAVERSTRAW – Rockland County Executive Edwin Day’s $674 million budget for next year would increase county taxes by $1 per month for most residents. Day unveiled his proposed spending plan on Friday at the Rockland Community College satellite center in Haverstraw.
The county executive, who inherited a $138 million deficit, said it is now down to less than$18 million. He credited a lot of belt-tightening to reach that milestone.
“Our recipe for fiscal health is working,” Day said. “We are cutting spending, holding the line on taxes and making our government more efficient and responsive.”
Unfunded mandates from Albany continue to challenge Rockland’s finances, he said.
Medicaid, pensions and seven other unfunded state mandates eat up 90 percent of the county’s tax levy in 2017. Medicaid alone costs 60 percent. That leaves some 10 percent for local needs including public safety, health care and parks, Day said.
The proposed county budget will create an inspector general post, an independent person reporting to the county attorney to oversee county contracts and make sure taxpayers are getting their money’s worth.
Day also wants to create a network administrator to beef up cyber security; a veterans’ burial coordinator; an associate planner to help evaluate proposals before the planning board; and three armed guards to protect public buildings.
The county executive also wants to phase out services provided by the county that duplicate public services elsewhere. They include a department of health clinic that treats AIDS and HIV patients. They will be transferred to services at other taxpayer-supported agencies.
The county would also end the petroleum bulk storage program run by the county health department. It would be taken over by the state health department.
Positions would be eliminates in the Department of Community Development as Human Rights Commissioner Dr. Penny Jennings undertakes a complete reorganization.
Sullivan County tops region in job growth
May 16, 2024
