40 Rockland Employees May Lose Jobs, Saving Taxpayers $1.9 Million

Rockland's proposed 2012 budget checks in at $701.8 million and saves over 500 county jobs, but comes with a steep price—a , plus a sales tax uptick.

The budget—which , who must pass, veto or partially veto it come Dec. 14—does not save all county positions, however. A total of 40 positions could be slashed, leaving a handful of public employees out-of-work and totaling about $1.9 million in salary savings.

The highest paying position being cut is a department of mental health psychiatrist post, which entails an annual salary of $157,531. The second highest-paying position being eliminated is the same department's head nurse job, which pays $90,017 each year.

The lowest-paying job eliminated is the department of mental health's music therapist post, which pays $30,838 annually. Two of these positions are set to be axed.

Cuts affect a wide range of departments, including the office for the aging and youth services. The majority of the cut jobs are in the department of mental health in Pomona.

Although some professionals in the county's methadone maintenance treatment center are numbered among the layoffs, they will not lose their jobs—an outside, private company is taking over operations, and will likely keep them on board, officials said.

Two jobs in the layoff section were saved at the last minute: an emergency care psychiatrist, and a youth program aide who is retiring in May. The position will then be eliminated.

Stephen DeGroat, the county's acting budget director, said no new positions are set to be created within the 2012 budget.

"No new jobs are created that I know of," he explained. "There are just positions being restored," he added, noting over 500 jobs are saved from termination in the proposed budget.

Vanderhoef could not be reached for comment on the current proposed budget.