Day Vetoes Legislative Assistant For Water Task Force

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — County Executive Ed Day used his line-item veto power to veto several changes made to the proposed county budget for 2021 by the Rockland County Legislature.

SEE: Rockland County Budget: Holding The Line On Property, Sales Taxes

One of the amendments would hamstring county health officials' ability to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Day said.

He said the lawmakers' plan to create a new position and hire someone at $68,730 as special assistant to the Legislature's Water Management Task Force called for a cut to the Department of Health’s Relief Account.

"Reducing this account is reckless as this department is on the front line combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, and especially with vaccinations coming out," Day said in his veto message. "Also, there were no conversations by the Legislature with the Commissioner of Health as to the impact this would have on the delivery of vital and needed services."

In fact, he quoted Dr. Patricia Ruppert, the Commissioner of Health, as saying the move "would be devastating to the Department of Health."

He said that was one of several new positions the lawmakers wanted to create for the County Legislature. He vetoed them.

"I am not vetoing the amendments adjusting the health insurance expense and sales tax revenue,” Day wrote.

The lower than estimated increase in New York State’s Empire Plan health insurance rates have provided unexpected savings for taxpayers.

Under the budget as it now stands, the increase in property taxes for the average Rockland taxpayer will be about $1 a month instead of $3, as predicted in the draft budget.

"Despite poor accounting by the Legislative Majority, we arrive at the same goal and will bring the people of Rockland a reduction in the proposed real property tax levy," Day said.

The Legislature can override any executive veto with a two-thirds majority vote. If the Legislature takes no action by Dec. 20, the Budget is deemed adopted.

The water task force was formed in 2014. The Rockland County Water Task Force has a plan for ways to conserve enough water to prevent or at least delay having to come up with expensive new sources for the precious resource. The plan includes near-term and long-term options for action.

SEE:

• Water Rate Increases For Rockland County
• Rockland Residents' Input Needed At Water Conservation Workshop
• Task Force Working On Water Conservation In Rockland
• No Drop in Rockland Water Usage under Mandatory Restrictions
• $250,000 Grant for Rockland to Study Ways to Conserve Water
• State Public Service Commission Rejects United Water's Desalination Plant, Surcharge
• Rocklanders Question, Protest Hudson River Drinking Water