MONTICELLO — Flush with funds and optimism, Sullivan County Manager Josh Potosek unveiled a tentative 2017 county budget Friday that - if approved by legislators in December - adds more than a dozen positions, creates a new department, allocates resources to health and blight initiatives, gives a three-percent raise to management positions, and accelerates building and roadwork.

It also comes with a proposed 4.77 percent tax hike, above the state-mandated tax cap and equivalent to another $53.43 per $100,000 of the assessed value of a taxpayer's property.

That increase, however, stems solely from the imminent construction of a new county jail and Sheriff's administration complex off Route 17's Exit 104 in Monticello, according to Potosek.

Though authorization has been given to bond up to $95 million, the 155,000-square-foot facility is anticipated to cost around $85 million.

“The anticipated operational efficiencies expected with the new facility are anticipated to generate enough savings that, when coupled with the 2017 tax increase, will fully fund the construction and operation of the new facility,” Potosek explained. “It may even be possible to scale back the 4.77 percent tax increase associated with the new jail once fully operational.”

The $217,105,669 proposed budget is $10 million more than what was proposed for 2016 and anticipates sales tax revenues of $38.5 million next year, about $1.5 million higher than 2016's estimate.

As a result, the proposal is full of increases and initiatives:

• $1.5 million for surfacing of 60 miles of county roads

• $7.6 million (via debt authorizations) for fully reconstructing and paving 30 miles of county roads

• $7 million for renovating and making more energy-efficient county buildings, including the Government Center, Courthouse and Social Services complex

• A new Division of Environmental Sustainability, Beautification and Recreation, which would incorporate the existing Office of Sustainable Energy - which is under the County Manager's Office - and the Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Beautification - which is under the Division of Public Works - with three new positions (a Sustainability Coordinator and two part-time Sustainability Analysts, possibly to be filled by existing staff but replacing the contract with Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development, which provides two consultants)

• A renaming of the Division of Planning and Environmental Management to Planning and Community Development, along with a new Assistant Commissioner of that division

• A new Deputy County Manager position

• A new Deputy Public Health Director

• A new client assistance position in the Office for the Aging

• A new GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Administrator

• A new Staff Auditor in the Office of Audit and Control

• A new Staff Accountant in the County Treasurer's Office

• A new Financial Analyst in the Office of Management and Budget

• A new Loss Prevention Coordinator in the Dept. of Risk Management and Insurance

• Two new Fraud Investigators in the Dept. of Family Services

• Two new Child Protective Services Caseworkers

• A three percent increase in management salaries in order to induce employees to be promoted to leadership positions (current salary schedules lead to a pay cut for certain promotions, indicated Potosek)

• An employee wellness program that will increase dental, diagnostic and preventive services coverage to county workers

• Building security improvements that upgrade cameras, door locks and electronic notifications to staff of emergencies on county property, plus two correctional officers as security guards in the Government Center and Social Services complex, with a focus on thwarting active-shooter incidents

• $10,000 for the Veterans Service Agency's marketing and promotion

• $10,000 more for the Youth Bureau's efforts

• $250,000 for the Legislature to dole out to local nonprofits and programs it deems worthy of funding

• $100,000 for the creation of a land bank (if the state approves) to address blight

More detailed explanations of the above can be found at webapps.co.sullivan.ny.us/docs/omb/CountyofSullivanTentativeBudget_2017_Executive_Summary.pdf.

“In addition to the largest construction project the county has undertaken in modern history, it was imperative that this budget regained some of the losses suffered during the recession in order to prepare the county for what I believe is a bright future,” Potosek stated. “I am confident that the document I am presenting to you achieves this, while avoiding the draconian tax increases that were once believed to be inevitable with the construction of the new jail.”

Legislators will spend the next two months tweaking Potosek's recommendations, with adoption likely in mid-December.

“I strongly believe that the initiatives that I have outlined and included in the 2017 Tentative Budget will help to improve the quality of life of our community,” Potosek concluded. “I look forward to working with the Sullivan County Legislature to see these projects through to fruition.”