County approves budget

But will Gunther back sales tax hike?

By DAVID HULSE

MONTICELLO, NY — As the Sullivan County Legislature approved its 2003 budget on December 12, minority Democrats sharply opposed last-minute staff cuts.

Largely bypassed in their final debate was the planned .75 sales tax increase, but Assemblyman Jacob Gunther said someone still has convince him that a sales tax increase is necessary before he sponsors it for the required approval of the state Legislature.

County debate was prompted by late budget amendments to cut two clerks in the Office of Elections, eliminate the consumer affairs director position and the position of managing attorney for the Department of Family Services, and sharply pare the salary of Clerk of the Legislature.

Democrats charged that the action had come directly from the majority Republican caucus, whose sessions are closed to the Democrats.

Democratic Party Election Commissioner Tim Hill said the action to cut two clerks “may be illegal and is certainly an attempt to subvert the electoral process in the county. Remember,” he warned, “there will be another election.”

Minority leader Chris Cunningham (DC-1) said there is no justification for the cuts and the department heads are predicting dire consequences because of them.

“This is no efficiency measure,” he said.

Cunningham said the sales tax increase was designed to cover any deficit. “Why make cuts and why were we not told of this until two days ago,” he asked?

Republican leader Rodney Gaebel (RC-5) said no one was being fired, that positions were being eliminated and the county has other vacancies.

“The majority [of our caucus] saw the opportunity to do some belt tightening…. The message we hear from the people is to downsize and whenever you do that, you’re going to have complaints.”

Cunningham offered an unsuccessful motion to amend the budget and restore the positions. It lost 2-7, with Finance Committee Chair Kathy LaBuda (D-2) as the only other vote in support.

The budget passed by a 7-2 vote, with the same breakdown in votes.

Legislative Chair Leni Binder (D-7) said it was unfortunate that the Finance Committee chair could not support a budget that was the product of her committee. Binder suggested more extensive budget preparations next year, with the process to begin in January.

LaBuda said she resented Binder’s remarks, saying the budget from her committee was not the one that had been voted upon.

Finance Commissioner Richard LaCondre said the late cuts were done as a backup to the sales tax revenue plan and saved about $226,000. LaCondre would not comment as to the necessity of the action other than to say, “we had prepared a budget without them.”

Beyond the debate, success of the budget appears to rest on a sales tax increase that must be approved by the state Legislature. That often is a pro-forma, home-rule decision in the Senate, but not in the Assembly, Gunther said.

Before he sponsors it, Gunther said he wants some justification.

“I’ve asked [County Manager] Dan Briggs and Richard LaCondre to sit down with me and explain why it’s needed,” Gunther said.

Gunther said he hears about a $10 million surplus and booming sales at county tax auctions and wonders where the need arises.

“I want to review it and I want them to demonstrate the need,” he said.