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"This is a responsible fiscal plan that begins the historic redesign of county operations," said Day. "Our goal is to create an affordable government. We've made the hard choices to set our county on a path to prosperity."
This year's proposed budget comes with a property tax levy increase of 4.95%, which equates to approximately $4 per month for the average Rockland County homeowner.
"Unfortunately, the events that occurred this week involving the sale of Summit Park Hospital and Nursing Care Center derailed our ability to deliver a budget that comes in under the state's tax cap,” Day said. "Sympaticare's decision to walk away from the transaction to sell the facility not only impacted the patients and staff, but the county taxpayers as well."
County taxes account for approximately 7% of a typical property tax bill. The remaining taxes are levied by schools, municipal governments and special districts.
The exact impact of the county tax levy on a property owner varies from community to community, due to different local assessments.
Day's proposed budget seeks to improve Rockland's standing with the major rating agencies, which have given two upgrades since the start of the Day Administration in 2014.
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli recently announced that Rockland County is no longer New York's most "fiscally stressed" local government.
The proposed budget will now go to the County Legislature, which has until Dec. 7 to adopt a final spending plan.
"To better align our workforce with the taxpayers' ability to pay, we have steadily reduced staffing levels since I took office -- from commissioners to receptionists, and everyone in between," Day said.
The county's head count in 2016 will be the lowest in 25 years: 1,659 full-time positions.
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