Sullivan budget passes; Outgoing legislator objects

Posted 8/21/12

MONTICELLO, NY — The Sullivan County Legislature on December 11 passed the 2016 $207 million budget on a 7-1 vote. The average increase in taxes for property owners will be .93%, bringing the total …

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Sullivan budget passes; Outgoing legislator objects

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MONTICELLO, NY — The Sullivan County Legislature on December 11 passed the 2016 $207 million budget on a 7-1 vote. The average increase in taxes for property owners will be .93%, bringing the total increase well under the state-mandated property tax cap.

While a couple of the legislators expressed reservations about how some proposed salary increases were handled in executive session, only one legislator voted “no” to the budget.

Cora Edwards, an outgoing Democrat, said she would not endorse the proposed budget because of about $1 million in proposed new “discretionary spending for ‘plans and feasibility studies.’”

She detailed her concerns in an email:

$125,000 – to support future public transportation improvements

$ 55,000 – to support local farmers by contracting for agriculture business retention and expansion services

$150,000 – to update Sullivan County’s 20/20 Strategic Plan

$100,000 – for a Parks Master Plan

$100,000 – for a D&H Canal re-watering feasibility study

$100,000 – for continuance of the Plans and Progress Small Grants Program

$150,000 – for investment for upgrades at the Emergency Training Center

$130,000 – for a comprehensive study of county employee’s salaries

She also cited the addition of eight new positions in the Division of Family Services.

Edwards said in a statement: “In and of themselves, I’m sure they are worthy new initiatives; however, I do not want to tie the hands of the incoming 2016 legislature [which will have six new members out of a total of nine.] It’s the job of the new legislative board to set their own legislative agenda and spending priorities, and we should give them the ability to do so.”

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