Our Financial Picture is Not Good

by: Bill Liblick

Sullivan County is plunging deeper and deeper into a financial hole, and there appears to be no way out. The proposed budget introduced by County Manager David Fanslau leaves very little to the imagination. We are in a financial mess.

Should this news surprise anyone? I think not.

Unfortunately, none of this played a role in the recent election, because everything was kept under wraps. Now that the election is over, we get reports about what deep trouble we are really in. I won’t say I told you so, even though I did.

The budget is so thin there is little or no room for movement.

The only reason we are not getting a tax increase is because that was the only way State Senator John Bonacic approved a sales tax hike. If we stay the course, next year we will probably be hit with a massive property tax hike. Three years before the next legislature elections.

One has to wonder if there will be enough money in the budget to remove snow from our roads. With no overtime, who knows what to expect.

County manager David Fanslau cannot just run Sullivan County as a business. We are dealing with the lives and livelihood of our residents.  Legislators must be reminded that our county is our largest employer. With all the cutbacks, we will be doing even more harm to our tax base.

So what is the solution?

The legislature has to invite innovative businesses to set up shop in Sullivan County. We can no longer survive as a seasonal community. Kutsher’s, our last real borscht belt hotel is now closed until Passover, forcing hundreds to be added to the unemployment lines.

We need to bring our college graduates back, and make it affordable to live in Sullivan County. But, none of this will happen unless our job market changes.

I have been writing about a proposed Internet hub for Sullivan County. It is the type of industry that can attract diverse employment, but no one seriously listens.

People like Dick Riesling have been trying to bring the renewable energy business to Sullivan County only to continually be turned on deaf ears.

The list can go on and on. 

Our hopes for Indian run casinos looks bleaker everyday. Even if it is eventually approved, we won’t reap the rewards for sometime.

How can we expect the legislature to seriously get to work to attract industry when they are part time? We have no county executive, or any real working relationships between county, town, or village governments.

In reality, we have no point person to guide us. Fanslau should not have the burden or responsibility to do this, our elected officials should. But, who amongst them is willing to take that leadership role and be serious about it?

Indeed our financial picture looks dimmer and dimmer. What can we expect during the next several weeks? Existing agencies will be begging for funding, and those with connections will get their items approved in the budget, while others will not.

Fanslau and the legislature can prepare us for the worse, and throw us all the band-aids they want. The question still remains - How much blood can one get from a stone?

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