Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Montgomery County, New York public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
5 issues with high priority
2027 County Budget and Property Tax Levy
Members went through the Legislature's proposed budget line by line, flagging the expiring bond counsel contract that must be rebid next spring and small stipend and salary corrections.
Public Health nurse-to-coordinator staffing shift
The county is bringing back a supervisor-level nursing job eliminated years ago, because the public health director has no licensed backup to authorize things like rabies post-exposure treatment. It's nearly 100% covered by state Article 6 funding.
Solar development on farmland
The state ruled the county's solar laws were fully complied with without ever actually analyzing them. The county is appealing to the Appellate Division for about $310 in filing fees, hoping to protect its scenic byways and cumulative impacts laws and ease the burden on towns like Canajoharie that have spent their own money fighting projects.
Child protective caseload crisis
DSS ranks last in the state for caseworker caseloads — some veterans carry 50-60 cases against a 15-case standard — and 65% of cases are overdue. The department is asking for caseworker assistant positions to free up caseworkers.
Federal HR 1 cuts to social services funding
The county proclaimed September as Hunger Action Month. The Regional Food Bank reports about 7,440 county residents — including 1 in 5 children — are food insecure, and it distributed 1.6 million pounds of food here last year.