Rockland’s 2017 Budget Includes First Property Tax Cut in 11 Years

The Rockland County legislature voted on the 2017 budget Tuesday night, cutting property taxes for the first time since 2007.

The $705 million spending plan, which cuts property taxes by 0.43 percent next year, was approved by an 11-6 vote. It sets aside $4 million for deficit reduction and restores about $1.3 million for 31 nonprofits.

The blueprint also commits to selling the Sain building located across the avenue from the legislature seat, with an estimated revenue of at least $4.5 million.

The Sain building had figured in County Executive Ed Day’s battle this past summer, when his allegations that some private school buildings were unsafe were proved false by inspectors. Days later it emerged that Day had allowed county employees to work in the Sain building even though it contained elevated levels of lead.

The adopted budget was submitted to Day, his final budget before he faces reelection next November. He has five business days to review and issue any line-item vetoes.

In related news, Town of Ramapo voters approved a $58 million bond purchase in a sparsely attended referendum Tuesday. The money goes to pay for improvements to the town’s public school system.

East Ramapo School Board president Yehuda Weissmandl, in an op-ed, urged residents to OK the bond. The results show 1,641 people voted to approve it while 375 people voted no.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the December 8th, 2016 edition of Hamodia.