Executive Day Presents 2026 “State of the County”

County Executive Ed Day delivered the 2026 State of the County Address, highlighting Rockland County’s continued fiscal responsibility, infrastructure investments, and initiatives to improve the quality of life for all residents.

“Even in a challenging fiscal environment, the County has refused to scale back essential services but mind you, there is the very real possibility of unexpected costs being passed down by state and federal programs — some of which border on draconian measures — that could push local governments toward a fiscal cliff. Rockland County continues to find smarter ways to move forward thanks to the dedicated public servants who work every day to strengthen our community,” said County Executive Day. “This year’s State of the County highlights not just our progress, but the people behind that progress — the departments and teams working across government to keep Rockland County strong.”

This year’s address was presented in a new video format, featuring department leaders discussing key achievements and priorities that support the pillars of county government — including public safety, consumer protection, support for veterans, and the infrastructure that keeps county operations running. Some of the major highlights include:

Public Safety and Consumer Protection:

• Probation Department collected and disbursed over $ 143,000 in fines, fees and restitution for the County and distributed $39,025 in restitution to victims of crime.
• Office of Consumer Protection recovered over $114,000 in refunds for victimized homeowners in 2025, a 75% increase compared to years past, in addition to collecting $720,000 in fines & penalties against contractors who were either unlicensed, uninsured, or otherwise not in compliance.
• Veterans Service Agency secured $1.1 million in additional benefits for veterans. VSA also doubled the size of its Veteran Food Pantry, serving 242 veterans & surviving spouses.
• Office of Fire & Emergency Services purchased advanced firefighter training simulators including Backdraft, Flashover, and SCBA Maze systems to enhance realistic emergency training. Also added a Hazardous Materials response vehicle and Technical Rescue response trailer to strengthen specialized emergency response capabilities.
• Information & Technology Services upgraded countywide cybersecurity systems including firewalls, web filtering software, and advanced monitoring tools.

Health and Human Services:

• Department of Health audited 50 schools and daycares, leading to increased compliance with vaccination requirements. DOH’s Center for Environmental Health inspected 415 units for lead hazards.
• Department of Mental Health expanded our response to the opioid crisis, opening our second Oxford House to create 10 new recovery beds for women and women with children. Drug-related deaths declined by 6.5%.
• Department of Social Services helped 49 individuals experiencing homelessness move into stable housing.
• Office for the Aging expanded the county’s Portable Meal Program from just three sites to 11. OFA also added six volunteer drivers to the Independence Project, providing nearly 1,000 rides to medical appointments.
• Youth Bureau through its Youth Employment Program trained and employed a record 595 young people across Rockland County who contributed more than 140,000 hours of paid work experience. Youth Bureau also secured nearly $700,000 in state funding, supporting 29 youth-serving programs across the County benefiting nearly 6,000 young people through sports, mentorship, and enrichment opportunities.

Environmental and Infrastructure Initiatives:

• Division of Environmental Resources facilitated the largest Open Space Acquisition in County history with the 236-acre Eagle Valley Assemblage in Sloatsburg. DER also upgraded trails, improved parking access, expanded pollinator meadows, enhanced dog park facilities, and strengthened connectivity within South Mountain and other major parklands.
• Department of Personnel modernized the County Job Opportunities webpage, which saw nearly 491,000 views — a 131% increase. This page also generated the highest number of applicants for the September Correction Officer exam in three testing cycles.
• County Purchasing Division implemented a Contract Lifecycle Management system to streamline procurement processes.
• The Department of Public Transportation provided 1.9 million rides this year on Transport of Rockland, or TOR,   fare-free. The County has also continued upgrading our bus fleet, programming the replacement of 14 buses, and installing equipment that will soon provide real-time bus information for riders. In 2026, the County will transition to a new operating contract.
• Department of Planning reviewed more than 600 development applications across all five towns & 18 villages — representing over 3,200 proposed housing units and more than 1.3 million square feet of development. In 2026, the County will finalize and adopt the Envision Rockland Comprehensive Plan, advance climate initiatives, and continue guiding development decisions to reflect the needs and priorities of residents.

The County Executive concluded by reaffirming his commitment to Rockland’s future, “Together, we’ve built a foundation that positions Rockland for its strongest year yet. We continue to stay laser focused on what matters to you.”