BREAKING: Budget passes, job losses reduced

TRR photo by Fritz Mayer Sullivan County lawmakers Kathy LaBuda, left and Ron Hiatt take a break from wrestling with issues like the budget on December 10 to help decorate the Christmas tree in the lobby of the government center.

Budget of the great recession

Tough choices for Sullivan lawmakers

By FRITZ MAYER

MONTICELLO, NY—Sullivan County's budget was approved on Thursday, December 17. For the breaking story, click here. For background information, continue reading below.

As the vote neared, county officials were still negotiating with the six unions that represent county workers to see if they would be willing to pick up some of the cost of their healthcare plans, or accept unpaid time off or perhaps other measures to spare some of the nearly 50 jobs that are targeted for elimination because of the county’s fiscal condition.

click for story

Justice for the justice?

Unequal pay may be linked to revenue

By FRITZ MAYER

KAUNEONGA LAKE, NY—For the second year in a row, lawmakers have decided that one of the town judges deserves a cost-of-living wage increase, but the other one doesn’t. In 2008, justice Kevin Rhyne got a four percent increase and justice Howard Block got no increase. In 2009, Block, again, got nothing while Rhyne and almost everyone else on the town payroll got a three percent increase.

click for story

A sweeping proposal

Saving energy to save money and the environment

By FRITZ MAYER

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY—Most buildings in Sullivan County and across the country waste enough energy every day that owners could use to have them weatherized and otherwise made more energy efficient.

To help make those energy upgrades a bit easier for property owners to tap into, the New York State Legislature passed a bill in November that allows municipalities to finance projects such as weatherization and solar installations.

click for story

Other stories in this issue:

• Shul agreement, seasonal inspections and Chapin Estate
• DEP revising gas migration regulations
• Gas at a Glance
• Immigration enforcement program at Pike prison?
• End of the Sullivan landfill
• Shohola replaces attorney in Walls’ case
• Gifts for the troops

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S