New City, NY — In a unanimous and bipartisan vote, the Rockland County Legislature approved an amended 2026 budget on Tuesday that keeps county property taxes flat, avoids workforce layoffs, and increases funding for key programs and community organizations.
The $913.8 million spending plan—originally proposed by the County Executive in October—represents a 4.26 percent increase over the 2025 budget. Rising personnel costs, pension obligations, benefits, and mandated programs such as Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education account for much of the growth. Legislators emphasized that preserving stability amid uncertain state and federal funding was their top priority.
Lawmakers say the 2026 budget positions Rockland County to navigate economic uncertainties while continuing to expand support for vulnerable residents and community development.
“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,” said Budget & Finance Committee Chairman Itamar Yeger, who led the Legislature’s review of the proposal. “I am honored to report that we have managed to do that with the adoption of this spending plan.”
The Legislature and County Executive have worked in recent years to strengthen the county’s finances, achieving a Triple A credit rating from Moody’s in July. Officials noted that the 2026 budget continues a multiyear trend: taxes were cut in 2024 and 2025, and held steady in 2022 and 2023.
Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. said the final budget reflects effective cooperation. “When members of different political parties are willing to reach across the aisle and build productive working relationships, real progress becomes possible,” Hood said. “This budget continues our commitment to providing the essential services our residents depend on while ensuring we operate as efficiently as possible.”
Majority Leader Alden H. Wolfe and Minority Leader Lon M. Hofstein both underscored the significance of passing a budget that protects services without cuts or layoffs, even as broader financial uncertainties loom. Wolfe pointed to the need for vigilance in the year ahead, while Hofstein emphasized the Legislature’s detailed review over the past two months.
The 2026 plan boosts funding across several community-focused areas:
• Nonprofits: $2.677 million in support—an increase of 14.3 percent—plus a separate $2 million in emergency assistance previously allocated for local food pantries following SNAP benefit reductions.
• Veterans’ Services: Funding rises by $146,000 to $1.15 million for programs serving Rockland’s roughly 9,000 veterans, including a new food pantry, burial assistance, and office rent.
• Tourism & Economic Development: An additional $509,880 brings total funding to about $3.1 million, supporting local tourism promotion, economic development, filming initiatives, and preparations for the nation’s 250th anniversary with a focus on Revolutionary War sites.
The budget also maintains funding for ongoing county initiatives, including the development of a Firefighters’ Memorial to honor volunteers and paid firefighters who died in the line of duty, expected to be completed in 2026. Additionally, it preserves major investments in infrastructure and housing: $30 million for a county-wide sidewalk improvement project and more than $7 million for affordable housing projects in Haverstraw, Clarkstown, and the redevelopment of the Sain Building site.
Next steps include the County Executive’s review of the amended budget. He has five working days to issue line-item vetoes, if any. The Legislature will have until December 20 to override those vetoes, requiring 12 votes per item.