Legislature Chairman Wolfe Proposes Local Laws to Strengthen Transparency in Annual Budget Process

The Chairman of the Rockland County Legislature Alden H. Wolfe has proposed two local laws that will add further transparency to the annual County Budget process and ensure that Legislators will have an accurate picture of department needs during the budget process period that takes place from October to December of each year.

“It is important for the public to have a clear understanding of the process leading to the final adopted budget,” said Chairman Wolfe. “For that reason, I have proposed a local law that would require that the report by the Legislature’s Budget and Finance Committee, which details the budget recommendations, as well as any veto message from the County Executive, not overridden by the Legislature, be incorporated in all copies of the printed and bound and electronic version of the adopted budget. These documents will serve as a permanent public record and provide an accurate explanation of how the final budget was determined.”

The additional proposal would require legislative approval to fill a vacant position during the budget process period. “Filling a vacancy,” said Chairman Wolfe, “can distort the picture that the Legislature has of a department, its needs, employee counts and the potential impact certain budget decisions will have on a department. Furthermore, the employee filling that position is at risk as the Legislature, unknowingly, may move to abolish that vacant position as a cost-saving measure.”

Both proposals will be the subject of public hearings that will take place at the May 19, 2015 meeting of the County Legislature shortly after the 7:00 pm start. The Rockland County Legislature meets in its chambers in the Rockland County Office Building, 11 New Hempstead Rd., New City, NY. Meetings are open to the public and attendance is encouraged. To obtain information on this meeting or other committee meeting schedules and agendas, please visit www.rocklandgov.com, click on County Legislature and follow link to Legislative or Committee Agendas or call (845) 638-5100. All agendas are subject to change.

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