Sullivan honored for financial reporting

CHICAGO, IL — The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to County of Sullivan by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

An Award of Financial Reporting Achievement has been awarded to Sullivan County Treasurer Ira Cohen as the individual primarily responsible for preparing the award-winning CAFR.

The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.

Cooke to resign clerk’s post

MONTICELLO, NY —George Cooke will resign from his job as Sullivan County Clerk following the settlement of a sexual harassment suit filed by the former deputy clerk, Nora Manzolillo.

Manzolillo’s lawsuit charged that Cooke fired her without cause and made sexually inappropriate remarks to female employees in the office.

Cooke has held the clerk’s position for 16 years, during which time he has become a well-known and well-respected public figure. His father, Lawrence A. Cooke, was a former chief justice of the New York State Court of Appeals.

Some of Cooke’s compatriots continue to stand behind him. “I don’t think there’s a more honest politician, a more upstanding citizen in this county than George Cooke,” said Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini. “His whole family’s been that way, and he’s followed suit. I admire the guy. I just admire him.”

Manzolillo will be reinstated as deputy clerk on January 2.

Plans for rebuilding Villa Roma under way

CALLICOON, NY — In a meeting of shareholders on Tuesday, December 12, the management of Villa Roma indicated that plans for rebuilding following both fire and flood earlier in the year are underway, but may be slowed by long lead times for concrete and steel, and still-pending claims with the insurance company.

Instructions to the architect to go ahead with plans were given in October, after the rebuilding portion of the settlement for the fire was made. Once the plans are complete, they will be sent out for construction bids. A drawing of the proposed front is available for view at www.villaroma.com, but may be changed.

Some portions of the insurance claims for the fire, and all for the flood, are still under negotiation. Meanwhile, many facilities, including the indoor pool, tennis and racquetball, and bowling alleys, remain open. However, the Villa Roma ski area will not b e open this year.

Rendell to tackle health care in the new year

HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Ed Rendell will unveil a new health-care initiative for Pennsylvania after his inauguration in January. Key elements of his plan include expanding the work of nurse practitioners, more extensive use of generic drugs, and clinics in emergency rooms that would handle simple health problems. Rendell is also concerned with reducing hospital infection rates, which according to one analysis cost the state $3.5 billion last year.

Rendell’s goal is to provide coverage to every Pennsylvanian through a system that doesn’t do away with private insurers and providers.

The Republicans also have been working on ideas to broaden and improve health care coverage, according to Erik Arneson, spokesman for the new Senate Republican Leader Dominic Pileggi.

Rendell said the health-care initiative would be similar to Cover All Kids, an expansion of free or reduced health care for children based on income eligibility. The program is expected to cover an additional 67,000 children this fiscal year, its first year in existence.

Vets to get more property tax exemptions

HARRISBURG, PA — Under new legislation recently signed into law, more of Pennsylvania’s disabled veterans will be eligible for property tax exemptions a year from now. Act 161 of 2006 extends the disabled veteran real estate tax exemption review period from every two years to every five years beginning on Jauary 1, 2009. In addition, the qualifications for exemption will be loosened. Under existing law, Pennsylvania offers property tax exemptions for veterans who demonstrate financial need. Under the new law, applicants can earn up to $75,000 and are presumed to be eligible for property tax exemption. Although applicants may be required to provide proof of income to claim the exemption, the new law will not require the detailed financial information required under the current system.

Study group nixes tax relief plan

HONESDALE, PA — A study group commissioned by the Wayne Highlands School District Board of Education to examine the state’s proposed Act 1 property tax relief proposal has recommended that voters turn it down.

Act 1 requires school boards to put the proposal, which would reduce property taxes but replace them in part by higher income taxes, before voters for approval. The group appointed for the Wayne Highlands district, the Tax Study Commission, found that the amount by which most households’ income taxes would most likely rise would more than offset their reduction in property taxes. They estimated that this would be the case despite the fact that some of the loss in property tax income would be replaced by revenue from gaming.

Other objections stated by the group included the increase in administrative burdens, and the unwillingness of the state to pay for those increased burdens.

The proposal will be put before the voters on the ballot for the primary elections on May 15, 2007.