Rockland’s 2009 budget includes a 4.4 percent spending increase of $30.3 million financed by a 9.85 percent increase in the county property tax (2008: $54 million, 2009: $59 million). This works out to a tax rate of $1.29 per $1,000 of equalized property value.

The increases and cost savings are designed to offset falling revenues in a slowing economy. Sales tax revenues are expected to bring in about $183 million in 2009. The 2008 figures are down about $4.8 million less than originally estimated. Mortgage tax revenues are similarly impacted: the $6 million 2009 estimate is hedged knowing that 2008 revenues are down $2.26 million from what was originally budgeted.

This list is provided courtesy of the Journal News:

• Cut funding to county contract agencies by 15 percent to reduce expenditures by about $1 million.
• Ask county government’s union workers to make a co-payment for their prescriptions from the county
• Pharmacy to reduce expenditures by about $1 million.
• Abolish 62 unfilled jobs, as well as establishing an early retirement incentive program to reduce expenditures by about $3.8 million.
• Install cameras at intersections to catch drivers running red lights and issuing tickets to raise $1.3 million in revenue.
• Institute a 6 percent hotel-motel occupancy tax to raise $2.2 million in revenues.

Source: Journal News