County Executive Ed Day Kicks Off New Term With Forward-Looking Agenda

By Y.M. Lowy

Rockland County Executive Ed Day officially began his new term this week, outlining major priorities residents can expect to see in the years ahead, including workforce housing, open space preservation, and continued fiscal stability.

Reflecting on his first term beginning in 2014, Day pointed to the county’s dramatic financial turnaround as a foundation for future plans. At the time, Rockland faced a $138 million deficit. Through conservative budgeting and a focus on economic growth, the county eliminated the shortfall and stabilized its finances. That stability has allowed Rockland to keep county property taxes flat in recent years, following tax cuts in 2024 and 2025 and no tax increases in multiple budget cycles. 

“But our work is far from done,” Day said.

Looking ahead, the county plans to expand support for emergency service volunteers through programs such as tuition reimbursement. Officials say more than $500,000 has already been reimbursed to volunteers pursuing higher education while serving their communities.

Open space preservation remains another major focus. Since reviving the county’s open space acquisition program in 2019, Rockland has preserved more than 330 acres of land from development, including the largest single acquisition in the program’s history in Sloatsburg last year. The administration plans to move forward with opening new park areas and seeking additional grants to protect more land.

In the past year, the county invested $13.5 million through its HALO loan program to help create roughly 500 affordable housing units, with a focus on seniors and emergency responders. Additional funding is planned this year.

As the new term begins, Day said his administration will continue focusing on financial responsibility, economic growth, and protecting Rockland’s natural resources while delivering services residents depend on.