Rockland County’s Fiscal Crisis Takes Center Stage Thursday

Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef will announce financial contingency options including layoffs and revenue enhancements and actions regarding the Summit Park Hospital/Nursing Home on Thursday afternoon.  Vanderhoef and legislative leaders have met to discuss ways to close the county’s budget deficit after they learned that their request for would not be introduced in the State Senate.  Later in the afternoon CSEA members, union activists and community member plant to rally outside State Senator David Carlucci’s Nanuet office.

The CSEA’s “Rally for Rockland” will call on him to sign on as a Senate sponsor of Bill A10100, which has been supported by Assembly members Ellen Jaffee and Annie Rabbitt. The protest is scheduled from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. 

Vanderhoef will announce a number of financial contingency options designed to close a budget gap projected to be $80 million and cut the county’s workforce “to the bone.” County officials convened after learning the proposed sales tax and deficit reduction bonds increase would not be introduced and that Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Rockland’s to Baa3.

Vanderhoef will also outline his plan of action with respect to the future of the Summit Park Hospital & Nursing Facility in Pomona. The county facility was the subject of a comprehensive study by consultants whose findings were released on Tuesday.

“We want Senator Carlucci to reconsider his position on this bill,” said CSEA Southern Region President Billy Riccaldo. “Without his support in the Senate, Rockland County faces devastating cuts in vital services as well as job losses numbering in the hundreds. These cuts will hurt all Rocklanders. The job cuts will hurt small businesses and impact all homeowners, as foreclosures will be inevitable and that will lower property values across the county.”

The CSEA is the largest union representing Rockland County employees.