Taking care of their own

2025 Sullivan County budget sparks debate

By RUBY RAYNER-HASELKORN
Posted 12/31/69

MONTICELLO, NY — Funding for employees in law enforcement and emergency services sparked debate among officials prior to an 8-1 vote by legislators approving the 2025 Sullivan County Budget. …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Taking care of their own

2025 Sullivan County budget sparks debate

Posted

MONTICELLO, NY — Funding for employees in law enforcement and emergency services sparked debate among officials prior to an 8-1 vote by legislators approving the 2025 Sullivan County Budget. The opposing vote was cast by District 9 Legislator Terry Blosser-Bernardo.

Included in the budget is an additional district attorney’s office investigator. At a previous budget public hearing, the addition of the position prompted Blosser-Bernardo to raised questions about the motives of the district attorney’s office.

Sullivan County District Attorney Brian Conaty addressed those comments st the December 12 legislative meeting, saying, “The main reason I came here in such a rush was because some comments were made that I was running my office in a political manner, and that is the furthest from the truth.” 

The DA defended the addition of the investigator to his office, comparing the resources at his disposal with those of Orange County’s DA’s office. 

“Orange County does have 19 investigators currently. They actually have their own union in Orange County for the Orange County District Attorney’s office. They have their own floor in the government center. They have their own forensic analysis unit for cell phones, which they are all certified to do.”

Asked why she voted no on adopting the budget, Blosser-Bernardo said, “I have nothing to say.”

The $303 million budget comes with a 2.5 percent tax levy increase to cover general cost increases.

The budget included a five-percent raise for most management/confidential employees. 

Detective Jack Harb of the Sheriffs office and president of the Police Benevolent Association in Sullivan County spoke on the behalf of the union, saying, “Everybody’s being asked to do way more than ever before with even less, and our membership is getting fed up. That’s why I’m here today. I’m trying to understand when this is going to end and when we’re going to get some help.” 

Harb pointed out retention was an issue across the county in EMS, fire and corrections. “I originally came here to speak on behalf of our union, but it appears like this is more than just our union. This is a county problem. So Happy Holidays. And how about [in] 2025 we address every union in this county, and even better yet, every employee in this county,” he said.

Legislative chair Nadia Rajsz responded and said, “I’m going to make the same statement that I hope that we are as generous and fair in union negotiations as we were with the management salary increases. So I hear you, and I agree with you. We need to be fair and generous to retain our people and to hire more. Thank you. Thank you for what you do.”

County Treasurer Nancy Buck brought up longevity—a bonus amount of either $100 or $200, depending on an employee’s position, that is awarded to county employees for every consecutive year of county employment—and that Sullivan is the only county in which it is not applied to elected offices. 

Rajsz agreed that it should be extended. 

District 3 legislator Brian McPhillips hesitated asking to determine if the change would include some or all elected offices, as originally only the district attorney and Sheriff’s office were mentioned. 

The two legislators spoke passionately back and forth, 

“Please stop interrupting me,” Rajsz said, putting her hand up. 

McPhilips said it’s important to access the change as a whole not just on an office-by-office basis.

The issue was tabled for advice from the county attorneys office.

According to a county press release, highlights of the Adopted 2025 County Budget include:

  • $21.6 million for road and bridgework throughout the county, to be achieved without going into debt by bonding;
  • $2.7 million to continue the EMS fly car system throughout the County;
  • $2 million for a Housing Trust Fund to address the housing crisis in the County, plus $250,000 to supplement a State program that provides local renters with first/last months’ rent and security deposits to ease the emergency housing crunch;
  • $2 million to provide for the design and renovation of county office spaces, including the Liberty campus and the county courthouse in Monticello;
  • $500,000 for the Sullivan Promise Scholarship Program, which provides up to two full years of tuition-free attendance at SUNY Sullivan for local high school graduates;
  • $494,000 to offer to eligible community nonprofits via a restored discretionary funding program;
  • $350,000 for legislators to use toward tourism event promotion;
  • $300,000 for the Sullivan County Youth Bureau to fund local organizations serving youth and their families;
  • $250,000 to develop a water resource map, to fully understand the county’s water resources and where infrastructure should and should not be placed; and
  • $65,000 to continue the popular local workforce development partnership with BOCES, whereby area residents can learn skills, like welding, car repair and construction trades, at no cost to residents.

Full details of the adopted budget will be made available at www.sullivanny.us (look for “Sullivan County 2025 Adopted Budget” tab in the lefthand margin).

Sullivan County 2025 Budget, District Attorney, Debate, Benevolent Union

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here