MONTICELLO — Sullivan County Treasurer Nancy Buck brought good news to the county legislators at the Management and Budget Committee meeting on Tuesday morning. The county is seeing a $3.3 million increase in sales tax revenue up from last year.

Overall, the county has gained revenue in sales, mortgage and room taxes. The mortgage tax saw an increase of $47,592 over this time last year, and room tax is up $150,856 over last year.

Buck also reported on the gaming revenue coming from the new casino. She said this quarter the county received $469,242 in gaming revenue, and the year to date total is $750,560.

The Resorts World Catskills casino in the Town of Thompson recently reported a $37 million loss. Separate from the $750,560, the county was expected to receive $13 million from gaming revenue from the casino this year that would be divided amongst the towns. Legislator Scott Samuelson said even though the casino is reporting a loss, the county is optimistic.

“I think we're all rushing to judgment on the casino,” Samuelson said. “We need to let them do their job.” He said the casino opened early, in February, so yearly goals might be off track. In addition, there are still more facilities to open, such as the Monster Golf Course and the Kartrite Water Park and Hotel. “I think it's doing everything for the community that we hoped it would do,” he said. “It's spurring on economic development and it's spurring on interest in the community. So I think it's all good for us.”

Buck agreed saying, “This is a nice revenue source that's coming in to the county.”

Opioid prevention grant underway

The county is getting additional funding for an opioid prevention grant, Public Health Director Nancy McGraw reported to the Health and Family Services Committee on Tuesday morning.

The Department of Health is on its third year of using the grant for opioid addiction related issues, including an information referral phone line, McGraw stated. The department had just received a notification that they will get an additional $25,000 on top of what they are already getting.

“This is something statewide that they are investing more money in. We're one of five counties in the state to receive opioid prevention grant originally for a pilot project,” McGraw said.

She said the state is tying the grant money into the health emergency preparedness grant, so the county will have to find out what the criteria is to use the grant.

Jail update

The new county jail is “nearing substantial completion,” according to Division of Public Works Commissioner Edward McAndrew.

He addressed the legislators at the Public Works committee meeting and gave them an update on the new jail facility. The plans for a new jail have been in the works for a long time.

McAndrew detailed some of the equipment in the new building, including an HVAC system and state of the art equipment.

Between the jail and another new building, McAndrew said the Public Works department will be busy. “We're going to have a lot more infrastructure suddenly,” he said. “So our buildings operation department is going to be feeling that.”