Purpose of Budget Review
The purpose of our budget review was to determine whether the significant revenue and expenditure projections in the County’s proposed budget for the 2022 fiscal year are reasonable.
Background
The County of Rockland, located in the downstate area and bordered by Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties, was authorized to issue debt not to exceed $96 million to liquidate the accumulated deficit in the County’s general fund as of December 31, 2012. Additionally, New York State Local Finance Law Section 10.10 requires all municipalities that have been authorized to issue obligations to fund operating deficits to submit to the State Comptroller each year, starting with the fiscal year during which the municipality is authorized to issue the deficit obligations, and for each subsequent fiscal year during which the deficit obligations are outstanding, their proposed budget for the next succeeding fiscal year.
Key Findings
- The significant revenue and expenditure projections in the proposed budget are reasonable.
- The County’s proposed budget includes a tax levy of $143,878,300.
Key Recommendation
- In adopting the 2022 budget, the Legislature should be mindful of the legal requirement to maintain the tax levy increase to no more than the tax levy limit as permitted by law, unless it properly overrides the tax levy limit.