The Rockland County Legislature unanimously voted in favor of extending a local law helping out those looking to pay delinquent taxes back in installments.
The resolution was included in the agenda at Tuesday’s meeting as an emergency because the resolution expired on Dec. 31.
“This is to give people who may be having difficult financial times more time to pay,” said Chairwoman of the Rockland County Legislature Harriet Cornell.
Legislator Ilan Schoenberger said before the amendment, the initial downpayment was 20 percent to be paid back over two years. The amendment cut down the initial payment to five percent and extended it to be paid back over three years. Tuesday’s resolution extends the amended law for one more year.
“Because of the economic hardship, we had so many people that were falling behind their taxes,” he said, adding it led the legislature to look into helping.
While the resolution did pass unanimously, four legislators — Legislators Aney Paul, John Murphy, Frank Sparaco and Patrick Moroney — were absent from the meeting.
The legislators passed plenty of other resolutions at Tuesday’s meeting, including:
- The legislators approved purchases from Frank Stevens & Songs Roofing, Inc. for roofing systems service, management, repair and installation for Rockland County Sewer District No. 1 and the Department of General Services for an amount to not exceed $199,884 through Aug. 21, 2013. They also approved purchases from Hauser Bros., Inc. for plumbing, mechanical and pipe work, services and material for use by Rockland County Sewer District No. 1 and the Department of General Services in an amount not to exceed $489,856 from March 6, 2012 through March 5, 2013, and for a total not to exceed $1,200,000 for a period from March 6, 2011 through March 5, 2013. The legislators also approved authorization of expenditure funds to Legacy Valve, LLC in the amount of $166,234.63 from Rockland County Sewer District No. 1 for sewer replacement and upgrade work associated with the Robert Pitt Drive Sewer Upgrade project in Spring Valley for a total not to exceed $478,640.69 and extending the contract through March 31, 2013.
- Acceptance of a 2012 Bulletproof Vest Partnership program grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice assistance in the amount of $6,261, no county tax dollars, with a state match of the same total for the purchase of bulletproof resistant body armor through the period ending Aug. 31, 2014.
- The legislators accepted a grant in the amount of $4,200, no county tax dollars, from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Selective Traffic Enforcement Program that will be used to help cover overtime costs related to aggressive driving and speeding for the period from Oct. 1, 2012 through Sept. 30, 2013. They also accepted a grant for $1,400, no county tax dollars, from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee for the “Buckle Up New York!” campaign from Oct. 21, 2012 through Sept. 30, 2013.
- Legislators approved appropriation of $25,000 in federal forfeiture funds to the Piermont Police Department so they can purchase a new police athletic league van to replace the one damaged by Hurricane Sandy. They also approved the appropriation of $20,000 in federal forfeiture funds to the Office of the District Attorney for the purchase of equipment for the sheriff’s Rescue Entry and Counter-Terrorism Team (REACT) Unit.
- Approving acceptance of continuation grant and a contract from the New York State Department of Health for the Early Intervention Administration Program in the amount of $160,608 with a local share match of $15,000 for the period of Oct. 21, 2012 through Sept. 30, 2013.
