The Chemung County Legislature passed the 2012 budget at a special meeting held on Monday, November 28th. The $177 million dollar plan was passed by a 15-0 roll call vote.
The budget calls for no increase in property taxes for the seventh straight year, no job cuts, services will continue at current levels, and the county’s fund balance remains at an historic level of $23 million dollars.
Chemung County Legislator Rodney J. Strange is proud of his vote for the spending plan and cited his reasons for supporting it. “This is a fiscally responsible budget that shows financial restraint during uncertain economic times. The budget calls for no increase in property taxes, maintains our roads and bridges, and provides the neccesary funding to keep our neighborhoods and streets safe,” Strange said. “We have been able to keep the tax rate stable for the past seven years which helps to bring jobs and economic development to our county. We have ambitious public works projects slated for next year that will improve and maitain our infrastructure throughout the county and the 15th legislative district,” Strange said. “What I am especially pleased with is that the Sheriff’s Office has received increased funding to complete the installation of in car cameras so the entire fleet of patrol cars will now have them installed. The Sheriff’s budget also includes funding for new vehicles and major improvements to its shooting range,” Strange said. “While this years budget is the seventh straight year that does not increase property taxes, we must continue to work to persuade the Governor and state legislature that meaningful mandate relief in neccesary so we can continue to have no property tax increase for many years to come,” Strange concluded.