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

Rockland County legislators voted 16-0 to adopt an amended 2021 County Budget that has no sales tax rate increases, layoffs or program cuts.

“This budget recognizes and implements the recommendations made by our independent fiscal auditor, and by extension, provides tax relief to Rockland property owners during what has become a very desperate time for many,” said Rockland County Legislator Michael Grant, chairman of the Budget & Finance Committee.

Grant said the lawmakers' amendments were meant to improve upon County Executive Ed Day’s proposed budget, plus Day's recommendation to the Legislature Tuesday after learning from New York State’s Empire Plan that Rockland's health insurance rates will only increase by 2 percent instead of the 5 percent originally estimated.

"Excellent news for Rockland taxpayers," Day said, after pledging support for an amended budget that would reduce the proposed property tax levy. "This is a win for our residents and an unexpected holiday bonus," Day said.

Grant said the lawmakers amended the proposed budget to reduce the amount of health insurance benefits’ expense by $1,380,900. He cited the Legislature’s fiscal auditor, CGR, saying those expenses had been overestimated each year for more than a decade.

Another amendment increases the amount to be raised by sales tax by $1.05 million. Grant said the audit found sales tax revenues have been consistently underestimated resulting in "serial over-taxation."

The others:

• Reduces a Department of Health Relief Line by $68,730, which will fund a Water Task Force position (Special Assistant in the Health Department) at $68,730. The job was included in the proposed budget at a $5 salary.
• Appropriates $7,500 to the Haverstraw African American Connection nonprofit, a local organization that promotes history and culture, and appropriates $5,000 to the Trap, Neuter Return nonprofit (also called Four Legs Good NY/NJ), which works with feral cats; with the expenses to be funded by a $12,500 increase in mortgage tax revenues.
• Legislative staff changes at no cost. Changes certain job titles in the Legislature (abolishes the title of Legislative Fiscal Analyst and adds a title of Legislative Fiscal Director; abolishes the title of Research Coordinator and adds the title of Director of Intergovernmental Relations and Public Safety Coordinator; “re-bands” other titles of Clerk, Deputy Clerk, Communications Director, Operations Coordinator).

Overall, the changes reduce the amount to be collected by property taxes in 2021 by $2,430,900 to $130,770,100. This means an increase in the property tax levy of 0.96 percent.

Legislator Alden Wolfe said the lawmakers' careful review produced a plan that works well across the board and does not add up to the "doomsday budget" initially predicted by the county executive. SEE: Rockland Lawmakers Reject County Executive’s Sales Tax Hike Plan

“It was important for us to allow the budget process to play out,” Wolfe said. “I’m proud of the fact that the Democratic majority stopped the County Executive’s unnecessary sales tax hike in its tracks, something that will greatly benefit our neighbors who are struggling with reduced work hours and job losses.”

The adopted budget went back to the county executive for review. He has five working days after receipt of the amended version to issue any vetoes. He has line-item veto power.

The Legislature has until Dec. 20 to override or the amended version with any vetoes becomes the budget. It takes a two-thirds vote per veto item to override. Two-thirds is 12 votes.