FORESTBURGH – During the Forestburgh town meeting held on November 6, the Sullivan County Legislature Chair and District 2 Legislator, Nadia Rajsz, was in attendance to discuss the county’s proposed 2025 budget, which currently reflects a nine percent increase in the county tax levy. Rajsz emphasized that the increase, while difficult, reflects significant reduction from the initial 15 percent that was projected earlier in the budgeting process.

Rajsz explained that the county is facing rising costs due to inflation, state mandates, and ongoing negotiations with several employee unions. She noted that the county must balance fiscal responsibility with retaining essential staff and maintaining public services.

“We are in a position where every department is feeling strain,” Rajsz said, pointing to cost pressures related to infrastructure projects and the long-term debt associated with previous mandated county facilities. She also mentioned that the court system is requiring the county to move forward with developing a new courthouse facility, a project county officials have not yet fully funded.

Another concern raised was the county’s declining sales tax revenue, which Rajsz said has dropped approximately four percent, creating additional pressure on the budget. She pointed out that the uncertainty surrounding the impact of potential new downstate casino licenses could further impact the decreasing sales tax revenues as it could draw businesses away from Resort World Catskills as visitors would be less likely to come to Sullivan County.

Town officials and residents expressed concerns about the affordability of the proposed increase, particularly while residents are already facing a significant rise in electric and heating bills alongside the property’s tax increases. Rajsz encouraged the residents to attend the upcoming public hearings on the county budget to make their concerns heard. The public hearings on the budget are scheduled to take place December 2 at 5 p.m. and December 4 at 10:45 a.m.

Additionally, Rajsz discussed ongoing county efforts to evaluate waste-to-energy options in response to capacity and environmental challenges associated with landfill disposal as well as infrastructure upgrades at SUNY Sullivan and the continuing court facility requirements placed upon the county.