Rockland County Executive Ed Day has proposed a 2026 operating budget that totals $913.8 million and freezes property taxes.
The tax freeze comes after two years in a row of 2% tax cuts.
Day, in announcing his spending plan, cited “increasing costs and great uncertainty about future state and federal funding and reimbursements.”
But, the Republican added in his Oct. 1 speech at the Pomona Health Complex, “we will not overreact to these unknowns.” He added: “We know costs are increasing for residents.”
Rockland County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. on Oct. 6 also acknowledged “considerable uncertainties around state and federal funding.”
“We’ll carefully review the proposed county budget, working closely with all county legislators and the county executive to finalize a plan that best serves the residents and businesses of Rockland County,” said Hood, a Democrat who represents District 3, which encompasses the villages of Haverstraw and West Haverstraw and parts of Haverstraw town.
‘Disciplined budgeting’ and a Aaa bond rating
Day said the budget plan continued supporting workforce recruitment and training; invested an additional $1 million in the HERRO program that provides college tuition help for volunteer first responders in a county that relies on volunteer fire departments; and strenghtens purchasing procedures.
Day pointed to Rockland’s “disciplined budgeting” that helped guide the county back on financial track over the last decade.
In 2014, the county was dealing with a $138 million deficit. The state provided special bonding to pay off some $95 million. That deficit bond was paid off in 2024.
A decade ago, the county’s bond rating was one step above junk status. Moody’s now provides a Aaa bond rating for Rockland.
Rockland County Legislator Itamar Yeger chairs the Budget & Finance Committee. “We’ll meet with department leaders and consult with our independent financial advisor to carefully assess all revenue sources and spending,” said the Democrat who represents District 4, which includes parts of Ramapo, “including how announced and potential future funding changes on the federal and state levels could impact the budget.”
What’s next in the budget process
The county budget plan faces the following key dates:
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland’s $914M budget built with eye on state and federal funding unknowns, Ed Day says
Reporting by Nancy Cutler, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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