In a unanimous and bipartisan vote Tuesday night, the Rockland County Legislature approved the amended 2026 County Budget, a spending plan that holds the line on county property taxes, protects essential programs, boosts funding for nonprofits, and includes no workforce layoffs. Legislators said stability was the top priority amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding state and federal funding for the upcoming year.
Budget & Finance Committee Chairman Itamar Yeger, who led the Legislature’s detailed review of the proposal originally submitted by the County Executive in October, said the county’s fiscal challenges demanded a cautious approach. “The uncertainty that surrounds federal and state funding for 2026 made it clear that the best course of action was to keep everything as stable as possible,” Yeger said. “I am honored to report that we have managed to do that with the adoption of this spending plan.”
Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. praised the cooperation between lawmakers and the County Executive throughout the process. He said the spending plan reflects the county’s commitment to public services while maintaining efficiency and discipline. “This budget reflects strong collaboration between the Legislative and Executive branches to best serve the people of Rockland County,” Hood said. “When members of different political parties are willing to reach across the aisle and build productive working relationships, real progress becomes possible.”
Majority Leader Alden H. Wolfe said maintaining critical programs without cuts or layoffs is a significant accomplishment given the “tremendous fiscal uncertainty” facing municipalities nationwide. He warned, however, that incoming state and federal budget decisions must continue to be watched closely. Minority Leader Lon M. Hofstein added that legislators conducted an extensive review of the budget over the past two months and met with numerous department heads. “We feel the budget we voted for will continue to provide essential services to the people of Rockland in a fiscally sound manner,” he said.
The County Executive originally proposed a $913.8 million spending plan for 2026, a 4.26% increase over last year’s budget. The rise is largely driven by cost-of-living salary adjustments, increased pension and benefit obligations, and higher expenses tied to state-mandated services such as Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education. The budget also expands support for nonprofits and other community programs serving residents with critical needs.
Under the adopted plan, funding for nonprofits totals $2.677 million, reflecting a 14.3% increase over the 2025 budget. This allocation is separate from the $2 million emergency funding approved earlier this fall to support local food pantries affected by cuts to SNAP benefits. Legislators also increased funding for the County Veterans’ Service Agency by $146,000, bringing its total budget to $1.15 million. The department serves Rockland’s approximately 9,000 veterans and supports services including a new food pantry, burial programs, and the agency’s New City offices.
Tourism & Economic Development funding rises by $509,880 for a total of about $3.1 million. The department will prioritize promoting Revolutionary War sites as the nation prepares to mark its 250th anniversary and enhance film-production initiatives throughout Rockland. Additionally, the adopted budget maintains funding for the county’s new Firefighters’ Memorial, honoring volunteer and paid firefighters who died in the line of duty. The memorial is expected to be completed in 2026.
The spending plan continues to advance major infrastructure and housing efforts, including the county-wide Sidewalk Project, with $30 million reserved for sidewalk construction across all 17 Legislative Districts. More than $7 million is also preserved for affordable housing initiatives currently underway, including redevelopment of the Sain Building property and ongoing housing projects in Haverstraw and Clarkstown offering affordable rentals for seniors and families. These efforts are part of the county’s revolving loan program aimed at expanding long-term housing opportunities.
Next steps in the budget process require the amended plan to be sent to the County Executive, who has five working days to issue any line-item vetoes. The Legislature will then have until December 20 to override any vetoes, with 12 votes required per item.
Sounds like an election time ploy. No tax increases.