How Close is Rockland to a 20% Tax Rate Hike for 2016?

Responding to an article in Mid-Hudson News, Rockland County Executive Ed Day said on Facebook that a 20 percent increase in the county tax rate was unacceptable, but that the longstanding fiscal crisis would mean big pain in the 2016 budget.

He said that Tuesday, when he still thought the county was going to be able to get out from under the cost of its Summit Park Hospital and Nursing Center--but the buyer just walked away from the $32 million sale.

SEE: Buyer Backs Away from Summit Park Hospital Deal

New York State Comptroller DiNapoli reported last week that Rockland County remained one of the most fiscally stressed municipalities in the state. Now that the hospital deal has fallen through, the stress level has risen.

As part of the county’s plan to deal with its enormous debt and deficit, Rockland officials decided in 2014 to borrow $96.4 million to make essential payments. The resulting Rockland County Deficit Financing Act, which involves strict oversight by the State Comptroller’s Office, required a $10 million payment in 2015 to start the process of erasing the prior administration’s deficit of $138.5 million.

The expected 2016 installment of $17.5 million was called a “sins of the past” balloon payment by Mid-Hudson News.

Those payments are mandatory.

Last year Day said his plan was to eliminate the deficit in 10 years. He proposed layoffs that county lawmakers rejected.

Day is scheduled to present his spending plan for 2016 at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Nanuet Library.

RELATED:

• Rockland County’s Fiscal Crisis Takes Center Stage
• Task Force Identifies Four Key Financial Issues
• Day Presents 2015 Budget Plan at New City Library
• Rockland Better But Still Among Most Fiscally Stressed