NEW CITY – As counties prepare their 2009 budgets, they are faced with tough decisions about spending and revenues.

As Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef continues to develop his county’s spending plan, he said it is virtually inevitable that a property tax increase is in the offing.

“I think you see, if you’ve been watching Putnam County, Suffolk County, Nassau County; we’re at a point, just like everybody else where there are certain services we are mandated to do, certain services that are absolutely required by the very neediest people, many of whom are in trouble as a result of the same economic conditions, you can’t rule out a property tax,” he said.

County budgets will be presented by county officials to their legislatures in the next several weeks.