SULLIVAN COUNTY  — The county is on track to hit their projection of $66 million in sales tax revenues this year, according to Sullivan County Manager Joshua Potosek, as he reported in his bimonthly newsletter.

Potosek said that the county’s budget no longer has to rely heavily on property taxes, and that eyeing a potential zero percent increase in land taxes in 2024 - subject to County Legislature approval later this year. 

Potosek, however, also noted several measures to be taken by New York State leaders that he says will negatively impact the revenue. That includes, according to the County Manager, the pay rate for assigned counsel (lawyers who represent those who cannot afford one themselves) rising to $158 an hour, and certain Medicaid money from the Federal government being kept by the state; leading to the county having to pay $100,000 more a week in Medicaid costs in 2024. 

A third item that will be hit hard is municipalities not being able to keep profits from tax foreclosure sales anymore. 

“Instead, whatever we collect at a tax auction in excess of what we’re owed in taxes and fees will have to be given to the delinquent property owner,” Potosek said. 

The estimated impact for that, Potosek says, is $4 to $5 million a year. 

Potosek also reported that Sullivan County has been leading the entire state in job growth, according to NYS Department of Labor statistics. 

“In the last couple of months, we’ve been surpassed by a few other counties and the city, but our growth rate continues to be quite strong,” he said. “In fact, we remain in the top five of non-metro counties Statewide.” 

The top jobs that continue to outpace all others in the County, according to Potosek, are leisure and hospitality jobs. He also said that efforts to diversify have turned in strong results and that growth in the “State-defined sector of trade/transportation/utilities has been almost as strong as leisure/hospitality.”

Potosek said that manufacturing and educational/health services are the job areas that need the most growth, while professional services and financial activities job growth “remains flat.” 

In the newsletter, the County Manager also encourages county residents to join in on the Countywide Litter Pluck, which runs through October 31. 

“It’s about more than looking our best,” he said. “It’s also about taking pride in our communities and ensuring our wildlife and environment are kept safe.”