Rockland Lawmakers Override Veto To Fund 2 Non-Profits

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Rockland lawmakers voted to override County Executive Ed Day's veto and appropriate $12,500 to two more local non-profits in the county's 2021 budget.

The budget includes an increase in the property tax levy of 0.96 percent. SEE: Rockland County Budget: Holding The Line On Property, Sales Taxes

The allocations are: $7,500 to the Haverstraw African American Connection nonprofit, a local organization that promotes history and culture, and $5,000 to the Trap, Neuter Return nonprofit (also called Four Legs Good NY/NJ), which works with feral cats.

The cost is to be covered by a $12,500 increase in mortgage tax revenues.

The county executive also vetoed that revenue source; however, the lawmakers did not consider a separate veto override vote for revenue. Instead they set the veto aside because Day specifically vetoed $12,000 instead of $12,500.

After consulting with the county attorney’s office, it was deemed an illegal veto. Lawmakers said that was ironic because the County Executive had called the Legislature’s budget calculations "poor accounting" in his veto message.

"This is a victory for two local organizations that rely on volunteers and contribute to making our overall community a better place,” Legislature Chairman Alden H. Wolfe said. “In total, they will receive $12,500 to provide services that the County could never provide at such low cost, and while I wish we could offer more, I hope this funding sends a message to the members of both nonprofits that they are valued and appreciated."

Supplemental funding for local non-profits has often been a source of contention between the County Executive and the Legislature. For example, at the end of 2016 Rockland County legislators voted to partially fund 31 nonprofits that had not been earmarked for funding in 2017.

SEE:

• Day Challenges Lawmakers to Help Fund Nonprofits
• Rockland Lawmakers Vote Funds for Nonprofits Left out of 2017 Budget