Schuyler County budget hearing is Nov. 8

The public hearing for the $55.2 million proposed 2022 Schuyler County budget has been scheduled for Nov. 8 during the normal monthly legislature meeting. At $55,205,964, the budget represents County Administrator Tim O'Hearn's last before he retires at the end of the year.
"While we still face much uncertainty in the realm of public health, we have much more clarity about the county's financial picture than we did during last year's budget process," said O'Hearn. "As it turned out, drastic threatened cuts from New York state did not materialize, the tourism economy rebounded much quicker than projected, resulting in a year end surplus."
As it currently stands, the proposed budget for 2022 sits at $55,205,964 which represents an 11.59 percent increase over the $49,471,887 budget for 2021. While the total of the budget is going up, the levy is decreasing 2.5 percent from $11,323,706 in 2021 to $11,040,870 in the proposed budget. The tax rate is also decreasing 3.63 percent, from $7.13 per thousand dollars of assessed value to $6.87 per thousand.
"While we are starting to see signs of a healthy recovery from the pandemic, we cannot lose sight of the fact that many of our residents are still facing financial hardships," said Legislative Chair Carl Blowers. "I am pleased to be able to support a spending plan that helps ease that burden for our taxpayers."
The 2022 budget marks the 10th consecutive year of a reduced tax rate and is a record tax levy decrease.
Deputy Administrator Fonda Chronis offered, "Although uncertainty as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic still exists, to date, the county's financial position has improved despite this health crisis. We mourn those who have died or may be lost due to the virus, but we celebrate a community that continues to "weather the storm" and is stronger for it. We see tourism at an all-time high - full hotels, lines at restaurants, and another sell-out at Watkins Glen International for the NASCAR race. But uncertainties persist: the Delta variant has increased our transmission rates significantly and we have a new executive in Albany, so we just do not know how the pandemic will affect us come this fall and winter."
O'Hearn also said, "This new-found financial strength will allow the county to invest in areas previously deemed unaffordable - items such as basic county infrastructure, buildings, machinery, equipment, fleet, and people. After these investments, continued favorable fiscal outcomes, which we believe will occur over the next few years, should allow the county to fund reserve accounts as the way to plan and pay for future infrastructure costs."
The Nov. 8 public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Human Services Complex in Montour Falls.