Rockland Lawmakers Vote 10-1 To Approve County Budget For 2023

NEW CITY, NY — Rockland County legislators voted 10-1 to amend and approve a 2023 County Budget that has no property tax increases, no program cuts and no layoffs.

“I am grateful that by working together, all sides were able to come to agreement on a budget that will continue vital county services and maintain our county workforce — all without raising county property taxes a single cent,” County Budget & Finance Chairman Legislator Aron Wieder said.

The $812.4 million amended adopted 2023 budget includes $130.77 million in property taxes, which represents a 0 percent tax levy increase over the 2022 budget. County property taxes also were not raised in 2022.

Six lawmakers were absent when the Legislature voted.

The sole "no" vote came from Legislator Charles J. Falciglia.

Falciglia had said on Facebook after the Nov. 30 budget committee meeting that he believed the county could and should decrease taxes. "Aside from public safety our most important responsibility is to defend every penny of the taxpayer’s money and keep taxes as low as possible. We all hear it from our constituents when either campaigning or in a non-descript casual conversation that property taxes are too high and the driving force to move out of Rockland. The public has been conditioned over the years to be thankful for no tax increase or even a slight increase, which I find unacceptable."

Legislative officials said taxpayers are in effect realizing the equivalent of a tax cut of about 9.5 percent — because the county’s Motor Vehicle Tax and Residential Energy Sates Tax were both eliminated in time for the new budget year and neither will be collected in 2023.

The budget also reflects a slight — two month — reduction of the county’s portion of sales tax on motor fuel purchases, capping the tax charged to the first $2 of a gasoline purchase, resulting in a roughly $5 savings for a typical fill-up. It is in effect through February 2023.

County Budget & Finance Vice Chairman Legislator Michael Grant said it took years of effort to pull Rockland out of its fiscal crisis. "I am so grateful to see us standing on firm ground instead of shifting sands and I am sure, through continued careful management of the budget, Rockland County will continue to strengthen its fiscal vitality."

The minority and the majority members of the County Legislature were able to work together with the County Executive’s administration to iron out a very stable, realistic budget for 2023, County Legislature Minority Leader Lon Hofstein said.

County Executive Ed Day, who plans to immediately review the 2023 Amended Budget, issued a statement.

I am so appreciative of the effort put forth by the Legislature in reviewing my Proposed Budget. These collective ideas are a victory for all Rockland residents and provide a clear path onward. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the County Legislature in 2023 and beyond for the benefit of the people of Rockland.

County Budget & Finance 2nd Vice Chairman Alden H. Wolfe said, “During the height of the national financial crisis, which so severely impacted Rockland County, we made a commitment to the taxpayers that we would right the fiscal ship and rebuild our financial strength. I am grateful that after so many years of difficult choices and hard work, we have fulfilled that commitment. I am so appreciative of everyone who worked together to craft a spending plan that preserves all of the vital services our residents and businesses rely on while cutting taxes.”

The county is also opting into the state’s new law that increases the income eligibility for seniors seeking a reduction in property taxes from $29,000 to $50,000 for people 65 and older.

County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. said, “We are hopeful that these collective efforts to reduce the tax burden will add up to meaningful savings for residents during these challenging economic times. I thank everyone who participated in the review process to make the final version of the budget the best it could be.”

Wieder thanked Director of Legislative Fiscal Affairs Nicole Doliner, Commissioner of Finance Stephen Degroat, Deputy Budget Director Steven Grogan and Director Of Public Policy And Intergovernmental Relations Stephen Powers among others for their diligent work on the budget.

“We are also grateful to County Executive Day and his staff for the cooperation and collaboration on the budget and look forward to working together to implement all of the goals included in it,” Wieder said. “Thank you to the members of the County Legislature who have worked together in a bipartisan manner and showed their concern for the County and its residents as a whole.”