Vanderhoef (file): 'Our residents have had to cut back"

NEW CITY – Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef Thursday ordered all county departments to freeze overtime and relief budgets and cut all non-essential spending.

Spending by all county departments has been cut by 50 percent, which should save the county and its residents an estimated $4 million this year, Vanderhoef said. All departments except law enforcement have been asked to give back take-home vehicles, a move that is projected to save the county an additional $50,000.

“This in the face of tremendous revenue shortfalls – sales tax, mortgage tax, etc. – so we’re doing what we can to manage the business of government without destroying its ability to serve the people,” he said.

These cost saving measures, in addition to the hiring freeze Vanderhoef instituted in January, are expected to reduce Rockland County expenditures and save taxpayer dollars during the current economic downturn.

“Our residents have had to cut back on their personal budgets, and this county government is no different,” Vanderhoef said. “We are responsible to the people we serve, and we will exercise any and all measures possible to reduce spending and pass the savings along to the people of Rockland County.”

Other cost-saving measures ordered by Vanderhoef are offering county employees a voluntary insurance buy-out plan for those that have medical coverage elsewhere in order to reduce fringe benefit costs, and a review of county departments to determine if more can be moved to a four-day, 10-hour per day work week.

Vanderhoef announced Wednesday that the County Highway Department would switch to a four-day work week beginning August 4th, a measure that is expected to save more than $50,000 in diesel fuel costs for Highway vehicles. Efficiencies and improvements in lighting, heating and air conditioning systems are also underway to help reduce fuel costs.