Day Unveils Draft 2022 Budget With No Tax Hikes Or Program Cuts

NEW CITY, NY — After pandemic-driven austerity, Rockland County Executive Ed Day's proposed budget for 2022 does not include a property tax increase, layoffs, or program cuts.

The County Executive detailed the proposed $774,895,030 spending plan Friday in a news conference at the Allison Parris County Office Building in New City.

First, Day detailed some of the challenges Rockland has faced since 2014, including a $138 million budget deficit he inherited when first taking office, a nearly year-long measles outbreak and the coronavirus.

“Through it all we have fought, we have sometimes struggled, and we have over and over again made the hard choices," he said. "Our dedicated and hardworking employees have made do with less. But we have found new and innovative ways to get the job done despite these hurdles. We have done the work, and it is paying off as we turn the corner and move forward with Rockland’s renaissance."

The county recovered from that $138 million deficit, ending 2020 with a $92 million fund balance or surplus. Day credited conservative budgeting, responsible economic growth and hard work, insight and creativity from county employees for the turnaround.

It happened despite the pandemic, Day said, because his administration, plus the elected offices of the Sheriff, the District Attorney and the County Clerk, implemented austerity measures, instituted a hiring freeze, applied for FEMA Disaster Assistance, and reduced capital borrowing.

"This was a whole government approach, and in a bi-partisan fashion, Rockland closed ranks to protect our residents, our businesses, and your tax dollars,” Day said.

These protective actions coupled with a rebounding economy resulted in county government underspending — despite a $40 million decrease in revenues — by $65 million and adding an additional $25 million to fund balance or surplus.

The 2022 proposed budget includes:

• $10 million for the Open Space program which has a goal of acquiring areas of scenic beauty, environmentally sensitive lands, farms, and Hudson River waterfront areas.
• $8 million in a contractual reserve to settle open union contracts.
• $2.5 million for the renovation of the current highway garage in New City.
• $467,000 for possible increases in funding to nonprofit contract agencies and 224 agencies.

Day concluded the announcement by reiterating his commitment to fiscal responsibility and refusal to put off costs or difficult decisions onto future generations.

“We will continue our prudent and protective practices. We will not stop looking for ways to improve efficiencies while eliminating delays and unnecessary costs," he said. "We are building resiliency so that we can handle whatever comes next. Whether that be another unknown disease, economic crisis, or climate change event. We are not nearly finished with the renaissance of Rockland County government."

Budget timeline:

• By Oct. 1 – County Executive must submit Proposed Budget to County Legislature.
• By Nov. 20 – County Legislature must hold a public hearing on the Proposed Budget.
• By Dec. 7 – County Legislature must adopt the Budget and/or submit changes to the County Executive. If the Legislature takes no action, the budget is deemed adopted. If the Legislature amends the proposed budget; it goes to the County Executive for review; he has five working days after receipt of the amended version to veto. He has line-item veto power.
• By Dec. 20 – County Legislature must override, or the amended version with any vetoes becomes the budget. It takes a two-thirds vote per veto item to override that veto (Two-thirds is 12 votes).