As he begins a new term in office, Rockland County Executive Ed Day is outlining a broad agenda centered on workforce housing, open space preservation, fiscal responsibility, and continued investment in county services.
In remarks marking the start of the new term, Day reflected on the county’s financial turnaround since he first took office in 2014, when Rockland faced a significant deficit. Through disciplined, conservative budgeting and a focus on economic growth, the county eliminated that deficit and stabilized its finances. Day noted that Rockland remains the only county in New York State to hold a Moody’s AAA bond rating, the agency’s highest possible rating.
That financial stability, Day said, has allowed the county to keep property taxes flat, following tax cuts in 2024 and 2025 and zero increases in 2022, 2023, and 2026. He credited the county workforce and cooperation with the Rockland County Legislature for helping achieve those results.
Looking ahead, Day highlighted expanded support for emergency service volunteers through the county’s HEROES Program. According to the county executive, more than $500,000 in tuition reimbursements have already been provided to volunteers pursuing higher education as part of recruitment and retention efforts.
Open space preservation remains another major priority. Since reviving the county’s open space acquisition program in 2019, Rockland has preserved more than 330 acres from development, including the largest acquisition in the program’s history. Day said the county will continue working to open newly acquired lands to the public and seek grant opportunities to preserve additional open space.
On housing, Day pointed to continued progress in expanding affordable workforce options. Over the past year, the county invested $13.5 million through its HALO loan program to support the creation of approximately 500 affordable workforce housing units benefiting seniors and emergency volunteers. An additional $6.5 million in HALO funding is expected to be loaned out this year, with repayments recycled into future housing initiatives. The county is also moving forward with the redevelopment of a long-vacant SANE building.
Day also outlined investments aimed at sustainability and long-term savings, including funding in the 2026 budget for a countywide feasibility study to identify locations for solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations on county-owned properties.
Concluding his remarks, Day pledged to continue protecting Rockland County’s fiscal health while balancing economic growth, environmental stewardship, and quality-of-life priorities for residents across the county.