Monticello, NY – County Manager Joshua A. Potosek today presented a 2025 Tentative Sullivan County Budget to the Legislature that continues to reduce debt, expands existing services and avoids layoffs or cuts to programs.
“The 2025 Tentative Sullivan County Budget prioritizes debt reduction, road and bridge investment, and cost-effective government. It carefully positions the County to maintain its fiscal stability, which taxpayers demand,” Potosek said. “For perspective, in 2019, our debt totaled just over $169 million. By the end of 2024, that’s expected to be under $108 million, with most of that due to construction of the jail.”
The $301,002,983 budget, as currently proposed, includes a 2.5% increase in the tax levy, under the
State-mandated tax cap. It does not propose incurring new debt or dipping into the fund balance of the General Fund for ongoing operations.
“The proposed tax increase is due to the County’s nearly $3 million investment in improving EMS services Countywide, and an estimated 8.5% hike in our health insurance premiums,” explained Potosek.
Full details of the budget are available via a digital budget book at https://county-sullivan-ny-budget-book.cleargov.com/17036 (also accessible through www.sullivanny.gov).
“This is more than an online budget viewing tool,” noted Potosek. “It allows users to easily search for information, quickly find what they’re most interested in, and even generate their own charts and graphs. It is an interactive way of understanding our most complex fiscal document.”
Highlights of the Tentative 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 already-successful 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
- $600,000 for legislators to use towards tourism event promotion
- $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
- $300,000 for the Youth Bureau to fund local organizations serving youth and their families
- $250,000 to develop a water resource map, to fully understand our water resources and where infrastructure should and should not be placed
- $244,000 for the next Legislature to offer to eligible community nonprofits via the Discretionary Funding Program
- $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 them
New positions are proposed as well: an additional investigator in the District Attorney’s Office, another dispatcher at the 911 Center, a health & wellness coordinator in the Public Safety Division, three Social Services caseworkers, two Social Services aides, and several instructors for both the Bureau of Fire and the Bureau of EMS.
“Thanks to the continuingly robust economy, the 2025 Tentative Budget can add staff and services while eliminating short-term debt,” Potosek explained. “Nevertheless, we are keeping a close eye on fiscal responsibility, and this budget ensures the County is prepared for fiscal bad weather, as there are some indications that revenues will start decreasing.”
Legislators now have until December 20 to review, discuss and adopt the budget, and they may make changes to the proposed version before it is adopted. Formal public hearings about the proposed 2025 County Budget will be announced soon. In the meantime, written comment is being accepted by Clerk of the Legislature AnnMarie Martin at annmarie.martin@sullivanny.gov or 100 North Street, Monticello, NY 12701.
