Rockland County Legislature Begins Budget Review Sessions

Rockland County Legislators will launch their review of the County Executive’s proposed 2023 County Budget tonight at 7:15 p.m.

A public hearing on the budget is set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14. 

Rockland County Executive Ed Day’s proposed $870 million 2024 County Budget, as reported by Rockland Daily here,  includes a 2 percent decrease in the property tax, additional funding for nonprofit agencies, college tuition assistance for volunteer firefighters and emergency responders; and for veterans’ patriotic observances. The budget also includes funding for an enhanced 911 system for mental health response, new open space acquisitions, and infrastructure improvements. 

“We want to do our best to engage in a detailed review of the County Executive’s proposed budget because it is the blueprint for how county government operations will be carried out not only for 2024 but into the immediate future years,” Rockland County Legislature Budget & Finance Chairman Aron Wieder says. “So far, it seems to be a good foundation, and I look forward to working with the CE’s office, the department heads, and my legislative colleagues in a bipartisan effort to adopt the best budget possible for our residents and businesses.” 

Chairman Hood said he and other legislators are committed to continue building on the successes of the past several budgets, including the 2023 and 2022 plans, each of which had a zero property tax increase and the elimination of additional taxes, similar to what was done when county government eliminated both the motor vehicle tax and the residential energy sale tax. 

The budget review schedule will go according to the following. Any changes to meeting dates will be posted on the Legislature’s government webpage and social media platforms. 

● Wednesday, October 11, 7:15 p.m., Budget Presentation by Rockland County Finance Department 

● Thursday, October 19, 6 p.m., Budget Review 

● Tuesday, October 24, 7:15 p.m., Budget Review 

● Thursday, November 2, 6 p.m., Budget Review 

● Wednesday, November 8, 7:15 p.m., Budget Review 

● Tuesday, November 14, 7 p.m., full Legislature Meeting and Public Hearing on Budget 

● Thursday, November 16, 6 p.m., Budget Review 

● Tuesday, November 28, 7:15 p.m., Budget Review 

● Monday, December 4, 6 p.m., Adoption of Financial Schedules 

● Tuesday, December 5, 7 p.m., Full Legislature Meeting and Vote to Adopt Budget.  

If the Legislature takes no action by December 7, the budget is deemed adopted. If the Legislature amends the proposed budget, it goes to the County Executive for review. He has five working days after receipt of the amended version to issue any vetoes. He has line-item veto power. 

The Legislature Override Deadline is December. 20 or the amended version with any vetoes becomes the budget. It takes a two-thirds vote per veto item to override a veto (Two-thirds is 12 votes).