Rockland lawmakers adopt budget with radically different numbers than Day

FROM MIDHUDSONNEWS.COM

NEW CITY – The Rockland County Legislature adopted a $705 million budget for 2017 that they claim will cut property taxes by 0.43 percent. The plan, however, is $30 million more than the budget that County Executive Ed Day proposed, a budget which included a tax increase of around 1 percent.

The discrepancy appears to be between project sales tax revenues.

The spending plan, which was approved by an 11-6 vote Tuesday night, restores $1.3 million for 31 nonprofit public benefit organizations and commits to selling the Sain building with the estimated $4.5 million designated for deficit reduction.

Legislature Chairman Alden Wolfe said the budget cuts property taxes and restores vital services. It stays under the tax cap. The budget, which will now be scrutinized by County Executive Edwin Day, who could veto parts of it, sets aside $724,000 to cover contractual obligations; estimates a sales tax revenue increase of $1.5 million to $195.5 million; and eliminates 26 new and vacant positions and restores 13 jobs, including nine payoffs.

As Day has a potential six vote veto-proof margin, he could potentially veto most of the changes to the budget and be back up by the Legislature.

FULL REPORT IN THURSDAY’S EDITION OF THE ROCKLAND COUNTY TIMES