The Chemung County Legislature adopted the 2013 county budget at a special meeting on Monday, November 26th.
On a 14-0 vote, the legislature voted to approve the $177 million spending plan put forward by County Executive Tom Santulli. The budget holds the line on property taxes for the eighth straight year and keeps county services at the same level as last year.
15th District Legislator Rodney J. Strange voted in favor of the budget primarily because of the fact that it doesn’t increase property taxes. “I absolutely believe we cannot increase property taxes on the residents of Chemung County,” Strange said. “I would not vote for a budget that included one.”
However, Strange did send a letter to fellow legislators expressing his objection to the drop in requested funding in the Sheriff’s Office budget. “I am very concerned that funding wasn’t included for an additional patrol car and travel expenses that Sheriff Moss had requested,” Strange said. The patrol cars are on a four year cycle for replacement and the budget only included funding for three. The travel expenses would be used to cover deputies travel for training in North Carolina. A training that the SWAT team attends every two years. “The funding that I support directly affects our deputies on the road. The fact that this funding was not included in the budget concerns me greatly and I stongly object to it not being funded,” said Strange Strange went on to say, “I have been told by Chairman Draxler that when my concerns were brought to the County Executive’s attention, he assured her that the money would be available if the Sheriff needs it during the 2013 budget year.”
The budget takes effect on January 1st.