Structured analysis of specific policy questions affecting Rockland County. Each brief is built on sourced data, peer comparisons, and explicit tradeoffs.
Every recommendation includes a confidence level and a clear statement of what evidence would change the conclusion.
These are not opinion pieces. They are analytical documents designed to help residents, officials, journalists, and advocates make better-informed decisions.
While Ranking Last in Classroom Spending — Here's What Would Change That
East Ramapo spends $6,053 per student on transportation — three times the county average — while ranking dead last in instruction. A $43.3 million accounting failure, a 43% ELL graduation rate, and four evidence-based recommendations.
Why Rockland's School Spending Varies by 33% Across District Lines
Per-pupil spending across Rockland's eight school districts ranges from $28,891 to $38,294. What's driving the gap — and what does it mean for Clarkstown?
The 2026 Rockland County Budget, Department by Department
Rockland County's operating budget has grown 32% in five years. Five departments account for 70% of spending. Where the money goes, department by department.
What's Missing from the Rockland County Legislature's Public Record
The legislature met 36 times in 2025 but published minutes for only two-thirds of those sessions. The documentation gap is widening.
What the Legislature Changed in the 2025 County Budget
The County Executive proposed $876 million. The legislature changed $471,675 — touching 6 of 39 departments, all increases, totaling 0.054% of spending.
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