Rockland's Ed Day proposes no-tax hike 2023 budget, adding jobs; What to know

NEW CITY − Rockland property owners would not see a county tax increase in 2023 for the second consecutive year under Rockland County Executive Ed Day's proposed budget.

Day suggested the Rockland Legislature adopt an $812.4 million spending plan for 2023, an increase over the $789 million budget for 2022.

The Legislature Budget and Finance Committee review of Day's proposal starts Oct. 12 and goes into November. The lawmakers will hold a public hearing set for Nov. 15 and an adoption vote on Dec. 1.

The Day proposal for 2023 would likely maintain the average county property tax bill at an estimated $1,292. The bill is the lowest compared to taxes paid to school districts, towns and villages. Residents also pay into special government funds like sewers and garbage and recycling collection.

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The budget proposal is projected to be supported by $261 million in sales tax revenues and $130.7 million in property taxes. The 2022 budget depended on $240 million in sales taxes revenues and $130.7 million in property taxes.

What's in Day's plan

• creating 43 positions and abolishing 15 vacancies with no proposed layoffs

• completing $30 million in nine highway and bridge capital projects, financed by state and federal funding, with only $1.5 million coming from county tax dollars

• a 10% increase of $518,200 for nonprofit agencies, including support for medical programs, the infirmed, domestic violence survivors and drug addicts

• introducing legislation to opt into the state’s new bill that increases the income eligibility for seniors seeking a reduction in property taxes from $29,000 to $50,000 for people ages 65 and older

• purchasing six parkland properties covering 37 acres as part of the county's Open Space Acquisition program, funded through last year’s budget process

• Mirrored after Westchester County’s HEROES Program, Day is proposing $1.5 million in college tuition assistance for volunteer firefighters and emergency responders. This program will provide responders with $6,000 toward their college tuition.

Day spoke about working with the 17-member Legislature to improve county programs and infrastructure while remaining prudent with spending county tax dollars. He noted the county has excised local taxes on gasoline and energy, saving an estimated $11 million annually, equivalent to an 8.4% property tax reduction.

Day suggested bolstering several departments, including the Sheriff's Office, suicide prevention services offered by the Department of Mental Health, and the Department of Health following outbreaks of measles, COVID-19 and polio during the past few years. The new positions will cost $1.45 million.

"We will continue the prudent and protective practices that have gotten us this far and work hard to preserve our county for future generations," Day said.

What new jobs would be for

Day said the new positions he has proposed were needed for "strengthening departments that are, without question, in high demand including the Department of Health, Environmental Resources, which oversees our parks, and the Department of Mental Health."

He noted health department officials and employees have been battle-tested, responding to three nearly back-to-back health emergencies.

"It is clear, this department needs more boots on the ground," Day said.

He proposed hiring someone to handle Freedom of Information requests for documents under state law. He proposed re-establishing the job of commissioner of General Services to oversee Purchasing, Facilities, Capital Projects and Information and Communication Systems.

Day said since the pandemic, county parks have experienced an explosion of usage by residents and visitors. He has suggested three new positions for Environmental Resources to accommodate the growing demand in parks and better maintain the facilities that currently exist.

He proposed two positions for the Department of Mental Health, including a psychiatric social worker, who will head the Suicide Prevention Coalition with veterans being a focus. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans make up nearly 14% of the suicides in the U.S.

The Sheriff's Office will get a position for safety initiatives to issue summonses to drivers passing stopped school buses. He noted the county will have hundreds of buses equipped with stop-arm cameras.

He said a state grant will finance training to respond to active shooters at schools and buildings.

"Many of these new positions have one central focus – secure, long-term planning of the county," Day said. "True sustainability means not just thinking about today, tomorrow or next year; it’s planning for 10, 20 or even 30 years ahead."

Plans for future discussed

Day said the county will judiciously spend the $63 million in federal funding through the federal government's American Rescue Plan. Day said the county has dispersed more than $1 million in grants to small businesses and restaurants and are on track to award close to $10 million to municipalities and nonprofits for green spaces.

"We will not burden our children and grandchildren with these costs," he said. "Instead, we will move forward judiciously, maximize the funding we receive, and keep the hands of the county government out of your pocketbooks and wallets."

The Legislature has scheduled a budget review session at the County Office Building for 6 p.m. on Oct. 12 with a presentation by Finance Commissioner Stephen DeGroat. Other sessions this month are set for 6 p.m. on Oct. 20, and 7:15 p.m. on Oct. 25.

In November, budget sessions are set for 6 p.m. on Nov. 3, 7:15 p.m. on Nov. 9, 6 p.m. on Nov. 17, and 7:15 p.m. on Nov. 21.

If the Legislature takes no action by Dec. 7, the budget is adopted. If the Legislature amends the proposed budget, the county executive has five working days to veto any changes. The Legislature would have until Dec. 20 to override any vetos with 12 votes.

“It’s an $800 million budget and we’ll have to review all of the details but based on what the county executive said during his announcement, there are positive plans included in his 2023 proposal,” Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr., D-Haverstraw, said. “What’s most important is that we end up with a budget that is as efficient as possible while maintaining the services residents and businesses rely on.”

Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com. Twitter: @lohudlegal.

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This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland proposed budget would add jobs with no tax hike