The Rockland County Legislature voted 10-7 in favor of an amended budget for 2013 which restored jobs and programs originally cut in the county executive’s proposed budget.
The legislators also voted to override the real property tax levy limit 14-3, as the budget contains an 18 percent increase in property taxes.
The altered budget came from the Budget & Finance Committee. Legislator Ilan Schoenberger, chair of the committee, went over how they restored the jobs and programs Tuesday night at the full legislature meeting. He said the legislators worked with Rockland County Sheriff Lou Falco, who consented to reductions to jail overtime, Sheriff’s Patrol overtime and jail relief. Schoenberger said the legislators also reduced the sales tax reserve and county legislative contingency budget.
The cuts totaled $7,585,838, and the legislators used that for about $6,169,000 in restorations for things like the mosquito control program, four mounted patrol positions, five positions in the Sheriff’s Patrol, as well as security guards, food service staff in the jail and laundry service employees. Additionally, the legislators made an adjustment of $486,000 called the COBRA Adjustment, which removed that figure from revenue in the 2013 budget because the legislators have to take that money and pay it to Empire, so it’s not a real revenue, according to Schoenberger.
That left the legislators with $1,416,665, which they voted to put in an account not to be touched unless it’s absolutely needed.
