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CLARKSTOWN, N.Y. -- The State Comptroller's review of the County's budget for the 2016 fiscal year found that "the significant revenue and expenditure projections in the proposed budget are reasonable."
But, Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli also pointed to areas of the budget where the $723 million spending plan needs to be addressed including:
- The budget does not provide funding to pay down the outstanding deficit.
- The sale of $4 million in real estate to help fund the budget would provide only provide a "one-shot" revenue stream and that the property has not been appraised for market value.
- No funding for hospital and nursing home operations.
- $1.8 million of budget "charges back" to other government for costs associated with out-of-county community college costs. (An issue on the legality of this measure is being disputed by the Legislature).
- Appropriations for salaries in the proposed budget don't include a reduction for those employees who may take an offered retirement incentive.
- The budget exceeds the tax levy limit.
In return, County Executive Ed Day offered a policy to reduce the audited year-end General Fund unreserved deficit fund balance each year by a minimum of 10 percent. Day says he will accomplish this via conservative budgetary practices and running government more efficiently.
In addition, Day said the plan would create a General Fund operating surplus and would avoid an additional burden to the county taxpayer.
Rockland County Legislature Chairman Alden Wofe said: "This is the feedback that we've been waiting for, and now we have a clearer picture of whether we'll be able to address the problems with this budget."
The proposed budget has to be approved by Dec. 7; if approved as presented, it would raise the property tax levy by 5 percent, for an average of $48 per homeowner.
So far, 11 workshops have been held to address the budget issues, another public hearing is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 in the Allison-Parris County Office Building, 11 Hempstead Road in New City.
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