In its first working session of the New Year, the Rockland County Legislature meets tonight to discuss and vote on the next steps of taxes included in the 2012 budget.  The increased taxes are an effort to raise revenue to pay for the county’s 2011 deficit.  The legislature does not have the authority to impose the sales, real estate and mortgage taxes, which must get the approval of both houses of the state legislature

The legislature will request the state legislature introduce home rule legislation authorizing:

• An increase of ¼ of one percent for each $100 of mortgage tax obligation of real property in the county and amending the state law to allow it. If approved, the tax would increase from ¼ of one percent to ½ of one percent.
• Adoption of a local law to impose, collect and keep the proceeds of a tax on real estate transfers of $2 per $500 of real estate property taxes within the county.
• Financing of the county’s deficit by issuing bonds and approving an additional 3/8 of one percent increase in the sales and compensating use taxes to fund such bonds. 

The agenda for the 7 p.m. meeting additionally includes a vote on establishing application fees for New York State Civil Service exams.  The legislators will set a public hearing date for the local law imposing the hotel/motel room occupancy tax of three percent.  The legislature will vote on setting a public hearing date for the local law imposing a $0.30 monthly surcharge for wireless devices.  The legislature’s resolution states the surcharge monies shall be used only for payment of eligible wireless 911 service costs as defined by state law.

Other action items include confirming appointees to the Solid Waste Authority and approving a $150,000 amendment to a contract with Tomco Construction, Inc. for the Pascack Brook project at West Washington Ave in Pearl River.   The contract for repairing damage caused by the 2007 Nor’easter totals $573,000.