The red flags are raised.
First raised by legislators Archer, Bartels, and Walter in their opposition to pouring money into a tech city building during a budget crisis; then by Comptroller Gallagher’s hard projection of the county’s budget coming up somewhere between 35 to 50 million short; and finally Finance Commissioner Gulnick’s projection of a 30 to 40 Million dollar budget gap.
It’s been said that County Executive Ryan is expecting Washington or the State to come to the rescue. If true, I think that’s wishful thinking on his part.
Washington is tens of Trillions in debt and NY is only one of 50 States that will be clamoring for federal assistance. Albany is looking at a 16 Billion dollar budget gap that keeps growing and Ulster is only one of 62 Counties that will be asking for financial assistance, with NYC asking for the most.
I personally want to thank Legislators Archer, Bartells, and Walter for their prudent concern; Burt Gulnick for the budget update, and Comptroller Gallagher for her timely warning that our once balanced budget is about to hit the proverbial fan.
Ryan has 8 months to cut spending this year and prepare some semblance of a balanced budget for 2021.
I remember when the jail ran 30 million over budget and my property tax went up 30%. I dread what’s on the horizon for us if Ryan doesn’t start making some significant cuts soon.
Thomas Kadgen
Shokan, NY
Shokan, NY
