Latest Sullivan County budget developments

MONTICELLO, NY — The Sullivan County Legislative Finance Committee met on Tuesday, June 6, to present the proposed 2006 Sullivan County Budget Reduction Plan. Finance Commissioner Richard LaCondre reminded committee members that “all of the cuts have caveats attached,” as he read a list of proposed cuts, which include the elimination of county staff positions as well as cuts to contracting agencies.

Financial Committee Chairman Jonathon Rouis said that staff were given a “loose directive” to try to preserve existing positions as they considered potential cuts. Most of the positions proposed to be cut are currently vacant. LaCondre agreed to provide more detailed information on various items listed in the proposed cuts.

Rouis concluded with a reminder that the current situation is the result of an imbalance between anticipated revenues and anticipated expenses.” Rouis said that next year’s budget should prove even more challenging than the 2006 budget. “We’re going to have to continue to work together,” he said.

The next meeting to continue discussion on the budget is scheduled for Thursday, June 8 at 1:00 p.m. at the Government Center in Monticello, NY.

Gunther secures $350,000

Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther announced Tuesday that she secured $350,000 in state funds to help pay for some county programs facing steep cuts.

Guther said the money would help to fund the contracting agencies, which range from the very large such as Sullivan County Community College, to the very small, such as The Eagle Institute.

In a statement, Gunther called for the “Sullivan legislature to urge the New York State Senate and Governor Pataki to match these funds to help keep these important Sullivan County programs fully funded.”

County Chairman Chris Cunningham, who has been critical of Gunther lately because she did not back a sales tax increase for the county, was supportive of this effort. He said, “The money is an enormous help.”

The proposed cuts to the contracting agencies equal almost $920,000, while the overall budget gap is $4.6 million.