Rockland Legislature Votes to End College Chargebacks to Towns

Last year, Rockland County transferred its responsibility for community college chargebacks to the towns beginning in 2012 and going forward, drawing heavy criticism from town governments.

The Rockland County Legilsature voted, 11-5, Tuesday night for a measure that would amend the  original resolution so that the towns would only be responsible for 2012, with the cost reverting to the county for 2013 and beyond, Tuesday's resolution was presented as new business Tuesday night and sponsored by Legislators Ilan Schoenberger and Frank Sparaco. It was due to be presented Wednesday to Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef, who has 30 days to respond.

"We met with the supervisors and heard what they had to say," Schoenberger said. "We understood what they thought this was unfair and it was appropriate to eliminate this charge. We are going through on a commitment we made back in November. Eleven of us felt it was not appropriate to push the cost down to the towns and raise their taxes instead of us.

"It was important to do it in the legislature before the county executive sends over his 2014 budget. Otherwise, he would include the money as proposed revenue in 2014. We wanted to deliver a message to him that the majority of the legislature is not going to go along with this for 2013 and 2014."

Legislators Ed Day, Michael Grant, Nancy Low-Hogan, Joseph Meyers and Alden Wolfe voted against the amended resolution Tuesday night, with Chairwoman Harriet Cornell absent, though Day said they were not opposing taking the burden from the towns. Back in November, Day supported one proposal for dealing with the issue and Schoenberger supported a different approach. 

"I agree with ending the chargebacks," Day said. "It was wrong then and it is wrong now. If I'm not supporting (the resolution) something is wrong with that."

Day said that the county would have to reimburse the towns for 2013, which he opposed. He also said the resolution should include how the county will fund it, which it does not. Grant had previously opposed voting on the resolution without the inclusion of a funding mechanism. 

"We would be reimbursing the towns for money already budged for. This creates a double-hit for taxpayers," Day said. "Why is the $1.6 million not going to the deficit? Why is it not going toward the stressed 2014 budget? The questions were never answered by either sponsor."

Either way, the college chargebacks would end up on the tax bills of Rockland County residents. 

"The reality is this bill must be paid by taxpayers," Day said. "It doesn't matter what line it is on. the key is to eliminate the charge-backs. 

Part of the issue is the inclusion of the Fashion Institute of Technology among the county's community colleges. 

"FIT should not be paid for by the average citizen," Day said. 

Orangetown Supervisor Andy Stewart stopped the town council's workshop Tuesday night to announce the results of the vote, though the town board members had yet to see the full details of the measure that passed. Orangetown Finance Director Jeff Bencik said the chargebacks cost the town approximately $300,000 per year. 

"We have a positive result on that," Stewart said. "That is unofficial but fabulous news."

Schoenberger and Day both said they would not be surprised if Vanderhoef vetoed the measure. At that point, the legislature would need 12 votes to override. 

For more on the ongoing debate regarding college chargebacks, read this report on Patch.