Lets recap the disastrous Budget season Ed Day has bestowed upon the Legislature and Rockland County: 1. I had to make these cuts because of an 11th hour realization I had to put $10 million aside for the deficit. A law we asked him repeatedly to deal with during the year, a law that he voted in favor for in 2012. But it was a surprise 2. The Anemone report (which Mr. Anemone still wont appear before the Legislature to answer our questions) recommends to cut the Sheriff Patrol Unit. Well actually it said to BOLSTER that unit, so now lets change our position to the Sheriffs department needs restructuring. Well, Mr. CE-- Sheriff Lou Falco and the Legislature will decide if any restructuring is needed. I still want you to repay that wasted $10,000 given to Mr. Anemone. 3. Lets cut the Contract agencies 100% while Ed Day gives raises within his staff and creates a new MIS position for $98,000 plus benefits so that person can manage social media. Really? Cut Human services-- the ones that care for the dying, support rape victims, victims of domestic violence, feed the hungry and cut Hi-Tor Animal Shelter 100% while giving out gifts to your inside staff? How is that acceptable to anyone? A horrible and heartless act. 4. Then lets come up with a bi-partisan compromise that included Ed Day, Chris Carey and Joe Meyers. Three people from the two parties is technically bi-partisan but I would say that term was used loosely. This compromise would have SHIFTED $1.8 million of expenses onto the Towns for RCC Charge backs, cut less Patrol officers but still axing 12 men and women of the Sheriffs department-- all the while still creating patronage positions and raises for his insider staff. Some compromise huh? You know what is truly bi-partisan? The vote on our amended budget was 15-2, 11 Democrats and 4 Republicans- that is bi-partisan. When you do the right thing for ALL of Rockland not just a few, this is how the vote will come out. Not three men in a room, balancing the County finances on the backs of the poor, the lowest paid workers and the Towns. 5. Then it comes out that Ed Days Budget actually exceeded the tax cap. Probably just a mistake but it could have cost the taxpayers other incentives from the State. Glad we at the Legislature caught that and fixed it. 6. The as a final act veto a tiny amount of spending and state that the Legislature will be raising taxes if restored. We are talking a symbolic political gesture at best. Cuts amount to 54 cents a month. $7 PER YEAR. Is this not politics at its most obvious? Oh and part of these cuts should be picked up by the school districts More Tax shifting onto the school districts. I would laugh at this common Day technique but its not funny. You cant just shift what taxpayer pocket to take the money from. The people are on to you and so are we. Every decision Ed Day made during this process was politically calculated and motivated. I believe we will override these ridiculously small gestures and tax shifting so we can finally get to work on next years process and hopefully Ed will learn to work with us. It will be a much better and smoother road for all of us. This first budget season has been an unmitigated disaster, we all expect better.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 03:54:43 +0000