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Inflationary Pressures Challenge The County’s Coffers
STATE OF THE COUNTY
Like consumers everywhere, Rockland County is patently aware of inflationary pressures.
Despite financial challenges, the County implemented a 2% tax cut for the second year running, while the county is feeling the pinch as sales tax revenue levels off.
In better news, the County’s unemployment rate hovers at 2.9 percent. Sales tax revenue, as reported by the New York State Comptroller’s Office, was essentially flat year-over-year from $285.4 million in 2023 to $285.6 million in 2024. Revenue peaked in 2022 at $289.5 million.
County Executive Ed Day, in his State of the County address on Tuesday, focused on cost savings, the affordable housing crisis, open space acquisitions, the boost from tourism, and the launch of a new Comprehensive Plan.
Outlining costs savings, Day said, the county Finance Department is saving $30 million for capital improvements by paying upfront with its fund balance rather than borrowing.
“Paying interest on a bond would have doubled the cost.”
And like a handy homeowner, Day said the Facilities Department endeavors to save taxpayer money by taking on renovations in-house, such as renovations for new offices at the Veterans Service Agency and Office for the Aging.
The Highway Department saved more than half the cost of resurfacing 14 miles of county roads last year by securing about $2 million in state funding, Day said. The Insurance Department saved the county $50,000 a year by transitioning two insurance cases from a prescription that costs $2,000 monthly — to over-the-counter options.
Day continued, saying the Public Transportation Department is purchasing two dozen new TRIPS paratransit buses using only state and federal funding. And the Purchasing Department is partnering with neighboring New York municipalities and school districts to streamline the purchasing process.
Day pointed to savings gleaned by leveraging collective purchasing power through its Empire State Cooperative Procurement Alliance.
And of course, the county’s favorite: saving taxpayers $618 in yearly property taxes through tourism. The county recently awarded $316,000 in Tourism Grants to more than 30 organizations.
Day addressed the county’s role in solving Rockland’s most pressing problem: the housing crisis.
The county has a deficit of 4,200 housing units for residents earning under $60,000, which includes teachers, first responders, retail workers, government employees, seniors on fixed incomes and others. To make a dent in the problem, the county launched the Housing Action Loan Opportunity (HALO) Awards, which provide low-interest loans to create and preserve financially attainable housing. Recently the county awarded $13.5 million to four affordable housing developers that will collectively build nearly 400 units and preserve 90 for low-income seniors. In addition, the county plans to redevelop the Sain Building into workforce housing.
Also, the county’s Planning Department is launching an update to the Countywide Comprehensive Plan of 2011.
“This housing crisis did not develop overnight, and it won’t be solved overnight,” said Day. “But my administration is committed to creating safe housing attainable to all.”
One consequence of the housing crisis is dangerous overcrowding.
“Since being mandated by New York State to enforce the Uniform Code in the Village of Spring Valley, our Office of Buildings and Codes has conducted nearly 4,000 inspections in three years,” said Day. “Those inspections resulted in over 16,000 violations and nearly $700,000 dollars in fines collected.”
The county must tackle growing skepticism over vaccines, which is likely to be exacerbated by a vaccine skeptic heading up Trump’s Department of Human Health & Services, Robert Kennedy Jr.
Beyond providing vaccinations to uninsured residents, Rockland County’s Department of Health has been auditing of over 60 schools and daycares to increase compliance with state vaccination requirements in schools.
On the legal front, Day said the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office is launching a Cryptocurrency Unit to investigate cryptocurrency crimes, as well as a Real Time Crime Center to centralize information and technology. This should result in faster emergency responses and quicker arrests.
On a sadder note, due to political division and polarization in the nation, the county’s Human Rights Department launched a statewide “No Hate New York” license plate program. Proceeds from the plates will fund anti-hate education, awareness campaigns and programs on human rights and inclusivity at a time when the Republican administration is tearing down DEI programs.
The county’s Division of Environmental Resources preserved over 300 acres from development under the Open Space Acquisition Program. Rockland County is under contract to acquire about 21 acres of land off Old Stone Road in Valley Cottage owned by the Blinn Family Trust to preserve as open space. The $1.7 million acquisition is dependent upon the Clarkstown Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals approving a subdivision of a larger parcel of land, the bulk of which would be sold to the County.
Other acquisitions of open space by the county last year include the $2.9 million purchase of 32 acres at 101 Old Route 304, and about 15 acres along South Mountain Road in New City for about $1.9 million.
Other highlights include:
- Providing free TOR bus service for the fifth year in a row through state and federal funding.
- The Office of Fire and Emergency Services’ HERROS program, which in its third year provided $230,000 in tuition reimbursement to volunteer emergency responders.
- The Department of Consumer Protection recovered over $55,000 in refunds for victimized consumers.
- The Probation Department secured nearly $80,000 in restitution for 300 crime victims.
- The Veterans Service Agency secured $2.5 million in additional benefits for our veterans.
- Distributing $10 million in ARPA grants to create or enhance more than two dozen parks, playgrounds, and community gardens.
Finally, Day said, “We are bolstering our efforts to ensure that individuals with disabilities have the support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive.”
The Department of Mental Health, in partnership with Capabilities Partnership, is launching a program to help families secure services from the New York State Office for People With Disabilities, or OPWDD.
