For Immediate Release

Nov. 10, 2017

Contact: Jane Lerner, Director of Strategic Communications
Office of the County Executive (845) 638-5645
lernerj@co.rockland.ny.us

Rockland County Proposed Budget Gets OK from Comptroller

NEW CITY, NY – The New York State Comptroller's office has given its approval to the 2018 Rockland budget proposed by County Executive Ed Day – the second time in a week that the County's finances have gotten a major boost.

The Comptroller reviewed the proposed $684.25 million spending plan, which stays within the state property tax cap.

"Based on the results of our review, we found that the significant revenue and expenditure projections in the proposed budget are reasonable," the deputy state Comptroller wrote in a letter to the County Executive and members of the Rockland County Legislature.

Rockland County Executive Day thanked the state for its confidence in the proposed spending plan.

"The Comptroller recognized that this is a solid, responsible budget that holds the line on spending while conservatively and realistically projecting revenues, including sales tax," the County Executive said. "There's no smoke and mirrors."

Day thanked Rockland Finance Commissioner Stephen DeGroat and Budget Director Steve Grogan for their efforts on the budget.

The Comptroller's approval is the second time in less than a week that the County's finances have gotten a vote of confidence.

An audit of County finances done for the Rockland County Legislature predicted that the deficit that totaled $138 million four years ago will reach zero by the end of the year.

"We were on the brink of fiscal collapse four years ago," Day said. "Thanks to our careful management and the reforms we have put in place, we have done a total turnaround."

Day urged the Rockland County Legislature to approve the spending plan.

The 2018 budget calls for a 1.95 percent tax increase, which is lower than the state-mandated property tax cap. For the average Rockland residential property owner, taxes will increase about $2 monthly.

County spending is essentially flat in the new budget even as the county pays off $13.2 million yearly in the deficit bonds, deals with lower state reimbursements and increasing employee health care costs.

The budget calls for no layoffs. Vacant positions are eliminated and new and redefined positions are created with a net reduction of 11 positions without layoffs.

To see the letter from the Comptroller, go here: http://bit.ly/2AsJbVc