County budget cuts ordered

MONTICELLO, NY — On August 1, David Fanslau, the Sullivan County manager, issued a press release saying that he had directed all department heads to “be prepared to reduce their overall spending by 5 percent for the remainder of 2008, with the exception of costs associated with personal services and employee benefits.”

Taxes at the county level are producing less revenue than projected because of the sluggish economy.

According to Fanslau, sales tax revenues to date are less than those the county received in the same period last year, and total sales tax for the year could end up being some $800,000 less than projected. Other county revenues, such as those from room taxes and hotel taxes, are also down.

Moreover, in the state budget, which was passed in April, state lawmakers reduced the amount of funding sent from Albany to the county by about $450,000. Fanslau wrote, “Because the state budget process is conducted in April and the county budget must be passed the December before, there was no way to know or anticipate a half-million-dollar funding cut, and that $450,000 must be made up somewhere.”

As a result, Fanslau has ordered cuts of $1.25 million to thr county budget for this year, and said further cuts may be needed depending on the performance of the economy.

Roscoe Renaissance project vandalized

ROSCOE, NY — A portion of Roscoe’s current Renaissance project was vandalized. One of the newly installed decorative benches on Highland Avenue was overturned and the cast iron leg broken. In addition, three other benches were overturned.

This is the latest in a series of events that have damaged flower planters at Renaissance project sites. The planter at the base of the newly installed trout sculpture at the Sunoco Country Store on Old Route 17 was damaged by bicyclists who were jumping over the stone planters. Several of the solar lights at the Visitor Information Gazebo at exit 94 westbound were stolen and the plantings trashed.

The chamber has filed a report of vandalism with the state police and will seek prosecution of offenders, whether adult or minor, to the allowable legal penalty.

Sullivan airport gets funds

WASHINGTON, DC — Sullivan County International Airport has received $582,920 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The money will be used to construct an aircraft parking apron and taxilane at the airport.

Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), who helped secure the funds, said, “This grant will enable the airport to contribute further to our local economy by creating new jobs for the people living in the area and providing additional revenue for the airport and county. I commend the Sullivan County Department of Public Works and Airport Engineer for their hard work and tenacity in making this grant and project possible.”

The parking apron and taxilane facilitate the development of eight new 20,000-square-feet hangars with attached office spaces by Arcadia Aviation, the airport’s fixed-base operator. The hangars will revert to ownership by Sullivan County at the end of the extended lease with Arcadia.

Partnership president steps down

MONTICELLO, NY — After serving for seven months, Peter Gozza has stepped down as president of the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development. Timothy McCausland, who had been vice president, has been named as acting president of the organization.

Gozza plans to focus his energies on his company, Gozza Graphics and Redevelopment Concepts, LLC.

Gozza raised some eyebrows at the government center several weeks ago when he announced that the official position of the partnership was that it favored the exploration of natural gas in the county. A couple of county legislators expressed the view that he might have made that decision prematurely, but there was no indication from anyone at the government center that Gozza’s departure was connected to that issue.

McCausland is an attorney with over 20 years experience and has served on the partnership board for six years. The partnership will commence an expedited search for a new president and CEO.

New York foreclosure bill signed

ALBANY, NY — Governor David A. Paterson has signed into law a subprime lending reform bill. Among other provisions, the bill requires lenders to send a pre-foreclosure notice to borrowers at least 90 days before foreclosure proceedings may be initiated, establishes a mandatory settlement conference for foreclosure proceedings involving homeowners with certain subprime loans and requires plaintiffs in an action against a homeowner to make an affirmation that they have standing to bring the foreclosure action. Ownership of the mortgage is sometimes uncertain, which has lead to questionable foreclosure practices.

The bill also enacts a new provision in the Banking Law to establish minimum underwriting standards that protect borrowers, including an ability-to-pay standard requiring lenders to make a reasonable and good faith determination of the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.