Sullivan County Budget Proposal Cites Sales Tax Drop, Inflation in 9.1% Tax Hike

Sullivan County is proposing a 2026 budget that avoids program cuts but seeks a 9.1% increase in property taxes, driven largely by a slowdown in sales tax collections and inflationary cost pressures.

County Manager Joshua A. Potosek presented the $305.7 million tentative budget to the Legislature on Wednesday, saying the County has worked to “maintain its fiscal stability and provide the services taxpayers need and demand.”

“The 2026 Tentative Sullivan County Budget continues to carefully position the County to maintain its fiscal stability and provide the services taxpayers need and demand,” Potosek said. “Originally, we were looking at a much higher, double-digit hike in property taxes, but through careful consideration of mandated services and County priorities – and dipping significantly into our fund balance – we have reduced the proposed increase to 9.1%.”

The proposal increases overall spending by less than 1% compared with the 2025 adopted budget.

Potosek noted the most significant financial challenge is a major shortfall in sales tax revenue — the county’s largest funding source outside of property taxes.

“The proposed tax increase is due to rising, inflation-fueled costs and an estimated $5 million-plus decline in sales tax revenue versus what was anticipated in 2025,” he said. “The projected 5% reduction in that revenue alone constitutes 6.7% of the 9.1% property tax increase.”

Full budget documents are publicly accessible through a digital budget book.

“This is more than an online budget viewing tool,” Potosek said. “It allows users to easily search for information, quickly find what they’re most interested in, and generate their own charts and graphs. It is an interactive way of understanding our most complex fiscal document.”

Budget Highlights

Key initiatives proposed for 2026 include:

$15 million for countywide road and bridge improvement projects

$1.3 million for capital upgrades at SUNY Sullivan, including new elevators in the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse

$683,000 for an integrated digital records system shared by county law enforcement

$500,000 to continue the Sullivan Promise tuition scholarship program

$150,000 to design a composting facility near the Monticello Transfer Station

$100,000 for the Sullivan County Land Bank to rehabilitate distressed properties

$50,000 to improve the Department of Motor Vehicles office in Monticello

$50,000 for expansions and upgrades along the O&W Rail Trail

$30,000 for a community water testing initiative

“This proposed budget also retains funding for the services and programs that impact residents’ lives every day, from Public Health to the Office for the Aging, from the Youth Bureau to the EMS fly cars,” Potosek said. “Nevertheless, we are keeping as close an eye as ever on fiscal responsibility and the limits of taxpayers’ abilities, which is why I’ve conveyed to legislators and our economic development partners that it’s absolutely critical we aggressively work on attracting more taxpaying industries to the County.”

Public Input and Next Steps

Legislators will now review and amend the spending plan before a vote by Dec. 20.

Two public hearings will be held in the Government Center Hearing Room, 100 North Street, Monticello:

Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 4 at 10:45 a.m.

Written comments may be submitted to Clerk of the Legislature AnnMarie Martin at annmarie.martin@sullivanny.gov or by mail to the Government Center.

Image Credit: Sullivan County Government