[HISTORY: Adopted by the Rockland County Legislature 11-17-1998 by L.L. No. 12-1998. Amendments noted where applicable.]
It is the desire of the Legislature of Rockland County to prepare County government for any possible economic down turn in the future and the potential consequence of having to increase property taxes at that time, due to a reduction in County revenue sources, including but not limited to sales tax revenue and state and federal funding. At present, Rockland County does not have a tax stabilization fund, permissible under § 6-e of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York. The County has experienced an increase in revenues due to greater-than-anticipated sales tax revenue, and the County Legislature desires to take prudent steps toward establishing a fund balance reserve account in which a portion of surplus revenues on hand could be segregated and placed aside to prevent the need to increase real property taxes, if such circumstances should arise.
As used in this chapter the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, and all references to the masculine gender shall be interpreted to include the feminine gender:
FUND BALANCE RESERVE ACCOUNT
The budgetary account created by this statute in which surplus revenues may be placed subject to future disbursements specifically restricted and defined by this chapter.
The County Executive may transfer a portion of surplus revenue or other funds annually in the budgetary process with the Legislature's approval or the Legislature may add to the budget proposed by the County Executive, pursuant to the Charter, a portion of the County's surplus funds on hand or other funds to the Fund Balance Reserve Account. Said transfer shall increase the Fund Balance Reserve Account in a specific dollar amount.
A. 
No funds shall be expended out of the Fund Balance Reserve Account unless at least a three-percent or greater real property tax increase is anticipated in the following fiscal year and said disbursement is to fund at least one of the following:
(1) 
Finance an unanticipated revenue loss chargeable to the General Fund of the annual budget.
(2) 
Finance an unanticipated expenditure chargeable to the General Fund of the annual budget.
(3) 
Lessen or prevent any projected increase in the amount of the real property tax levy needed for the annual budget for the next succeeding fiscal year.
B. 
All withdrawals from the Fund Balance Reserve Account must be by resolution.