BY Stephanie Specchio
SCHUYLER COUNTY--At the Schuyler County Legislature meeting Monday, June 12, legislators approved several resolutions, including a request from the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office for body cameras. The request allows for the upgrade of current cameras as well as the purchase of additional cameras to ensure that all correction officers have access.
“This will ensure that our team has the right equipment to do the job of protecting the public and themselves,” said County Administrator Fonda Chronis. “Cameras are used in the jail and on road patrol.”
During the county administrator’s update, Chronis indicated that he has asked leaders to begin thinking about the 2024 budget, keeping inflation, contractual obligations, and unfunded state mandates in mind. These mandates include changes to Medicaid reimbursements from the state; a change in the foreclosure process that will no longer allow the county to keep revenue realized from the sale of foreclosures above the amount owed in back taxes; and increases in the hourly rate for assigned counsel.
County leaders have been asked to review actual data for the previous four years to find an average and adjust as needed to reflect current realities. Chronis indicated that the proposed budget will include recommendations for capital improvement and vehicle replacement plans, working toward the goal of creating a five-year financial plan.
In related news, Chronis shared that sales tax revenue for the county fell short of 2022 numbers, with a nearly 7 percent drop in April and over a 13 percent drop in May.
“Sales tax growth is slowing down,” Chronis said, noting that he believes it will eventually return to pre-pandemic levels. “We cannot rely on sales tax.”
Legislative Chair Carl Blowers expressed his desire to identify “a second source of revenue for the county,” noting that the county’s first source of revenue is tourism.
SCHUYLER COUNTY--At the Schuyler County Legislature meeting Monday, June 12, legislators approved several resolutions, including a request from the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office for body cameras. The request allows for the upgrade of current cameras as well as the purchase of additional cameras to ensure that all correction officers have access.
“This will ensure that our team has the right equipment to do the job of protecting the public and themselves,” said County Administrator Fonda Chronis. “Cameras are used in the jail and on road patrol.”
During the county administrator’s update, Chronis indicated that he has asked leaders to begin thinking about the 2024 budget, keeping inflation, contractual obligations, and unfunded state mandates in mind. These mandates include changes to Medicaid reimbursements from the state; a change in the foreclosure process that will no longer allow the county to keep revenue realized from the sale of foreclosures above the amount owed in back taxes; and increases in the hourly rate for assigned counsel.
County leaders have been asked to review actual data for the previous four years to find an average and adjust as needed to reflect current realities. Chronis indicated that the proposed budget will include recommendations for capital improvement and vehicle replacement plans, working toward the goal of creating a five-year financial plan.
In related news, Chronis shared that sales tax revenue for the county fell short of 2022 numbers, with a nearly 7 percent drop in April and over a 13 percent drop in May.
“Sales tax growth is slowing down,” Chronis said, noting that he believes it will eventually return to pre-pandemic levels. “We cannot rely on sales tax.”
Legislative Chair Carl Blowers expressed his desire to identify “a second source of revenue for the county,” noting that the county’s first source of revenue is tourism.
