Monticello, NY – County Manager Joshua A. Potosek today presented a 2023 Tentative Sullivan County Budget to the Legislature that continues to reduce debt, expands existing services, avoids layoffs and eliminates the unpopular Solid Waste Access Fee – all without raising taxes.
“As proposed by my office, the 2023 Tentative Sullivan County Budget prioritizes what’s important to our residents: tax relief, debt reduction, road and bridge investment, and cost-effective government,” Potosek said. “At the same time, it does not burden taxpayers with further tax hikes but carefully positions the County for a stable financial future.”
The $ 267,069,580 budget, as currently proposed, actually features a slight tax rate decrease, projected to be .127%. It does not propose incurring new debt or dipping into the fund balance of the General Fund.
Full details of the budget are available via a new “digital budget book” at https://county-sullivan-ny-budget-book.cleargov.com/5073 (also accessible through www.sullivanny.us).
“This is more than an online budget viewing tool,” noted Potosek. “It allows users to easily search for information, quickly find what they’re most interested in, and even generate their own charts and graphs. It opens up our books like never before, ensuring government transparency.”
Highlights of the Tentative 2023 County Budget include:
- An historic $21 million for road and bridgework throughout the County, to be achieved without going into debt by bonding
- $5 million for a 20-year building plan with County facilities and the creation of an indoor arena at SUNY Sullivan
- $1 million to keep Move Sullivan’s buses running along four newly expanded routes
- $200,000 to implement the recommendations of the just-completed Housing Study
- $200,000 to invest in employee training, higher education and leadership development
- $200,000 to demolish blighted properties via the Sullivan County Land Bank
- $150,000 for a Countywide Parks Master Plan
- Plus more funding for the Sullivan Promise Scholarship (doubling the tuition reimbursement from one year to two years), the Youth Bureau, and the Bureau of Fire’s firefighter recruitment effort
The County Clerk’s Office and the Department of Motor Vehicles (which it oversees) will renovate their offices to improve workflow and customer service, while the Office of Emergency Management is proposed to add a deputy commissioner and support staff.
“Thanks to the continuingly robust economy, the 2023 Tentative Budget can add staff and services while eliminating short-term debt,” Potosek explained. “Nevertheless, we are keeping a close eye on fiscal responsibility, and this budget prepares the County to weather a recession, should it occur.”
Legislators now have until December 20 to review, discuss and adopt the budget. They may make changes to the proposed version before it is adopted, and the public is welcome to watch their deliberations during special Management & Budget Committee meetings to be announced over the next month. Meetings will be livestreamed on the Legislature’s webpage.
Formal public hearings about the proposed 2023 County Budget will be set in December. In the meantime, written comment is being accepted by Clerk of the Legislature AnnMarie Martin at annmarie.martin@sullivanny.us or 100 North Street, Monticello, NY 12701.