Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Sullivan County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues with high priority
Jeffersonville Communication Tower Project
The Legislature accepted the environmental negative declaration for a proposed public safety communications facility in Jeffersonville, moving the emergency radio project forward.
Mortgage recording tax increase and IDA exemptions
The county wants to double the mortgage recording tax from 25 to 50 cents per $100, worth roughly $850,000 to $1 million a year. It passed 4-1.
Outside counsel for Care Center litigation defense
The county is on the losing end of a lawsuit over the Care Center, where a judge found the county liable regarding the transfer of the nursing home and its vulnerable residents. Taxpayers are now footing the bill for private law firm Harris Beach Murtha Cullina to defend the county and its manager — with no cap on fees after the $50,000 limit failed.
Workforce development programs
The summer youth program has 84 applicants, CDL training graduates are almost all employed, and disability employment services are being expanded — good news for families and job seekers.
Uncollected Care Center debt
During public comment, Martha Scoppa said a District 7 legislator disparaged residents who opposed Infinite Care's takeover of the Care Center; Lou Setren praised Care Center staff and asked whether the county is pursuing roughly $8 million owed by a consulting agency.
First Responder Mental Health Training
The VA is rewriting some combat-related PTSD diagnoses as 'unspecified trauma,' which can mean lower disability ratings and benefits for local veterans. County veterans groups have taken the issue to Congress, and the local agency is fighting individual cases.
Election Administration Update
The Board of Elections needs poll workers for the November 3 general election, with training in July and August. Amanda Ward suggested recruiting 18-year-old high school seniors who need community service hours.
Outside counsel for county and county manager
The legislature unanimously approved an engagement letter with the law firm Harris Beach Murtha, securing outside legal services for the county.
SUNY Sullivan Report
A public commenter called out the county for decades of stagnant support for the college and demanded the dorm situation — stuck in litigation — be addressed openly, arguing the school can't grow enrollment without beds for students.
Jail staffing and inmate reentry services
The jail has 16 openings and its hiring list has expired, forcing provisional hiring. The committee also moved to extend the jail's private medical services contract to the full Legislature.
911 and EMS strain during summer surge
911 call volume has doubled for the summer and storms triple or quadruple calls in minutes, forcing extra staff call-ins. County fly-car medics are filling gaps, including a save of a heart attack patient in Woodridge.
Economic development pipeline
Sullivan County added jobs faster than anywhere in the region (3.6%), and the Partnership reports 17 committed projects totaling nearly $1 billion and 1,500 jobs — but workforce housing (only ~300 units in the pipeline) remains a bottleneck.
Rising suicide deaths and coroner's unmet recommendations
Community Services flagged an increase in suicide rates as a priority, planning closer collaboration with public health and reinstating the fatality review board to study the data. The community trauma response team made two responses in September and is restocking kits because demand ran them out.
Court contempt findings against county
A resident cited October 29 criminal contempt findings against the county and county manager and demanded legislators obtain the court record, conduct a documented review, and issue written findings.
Lawsuit Over Senior Home Closure
Sullivan County is facing a new lawsuit over how it handled the closure of a senior home. If you have aging relatives or care about county oversight, this is one to watch because it could expose gaps in how vulnerable residents were protected.
Measles outbreak and public health response
With measles cases resurging nearby, a resident asked for a public education campaign; officials pointed to titer blood tests and the county clinic, which plans to offer such testing once its electronic health record is running.
Senior citizens and disabled veterans property tax exemptions
New state budget rules change the veterans exemption and let towns raise the senior exemption income limit from $50,000 to $75,000. Real Property Tax is analyzing how many of the 133 veteran parcels would qualify under the new rules.
Employee health insurance switch to self-insurance
Public commenters argued the county's pay and health insurance contributions are why it can't retain CDL drivers and recruit sheriff's deputies, including a deputy with a gravely ill child. Legislators agreed to press state officials on insurance costs.
Sales tax increase Home Rule request
The committee wants Albany's permission to add a quarter percent to the county sales tax. It passed 3-2 after a heated debate over whether the county is budgeting honestly given an $11 million use of fund balance.
Substance abuse prevention and recovery housing
Garnet Health's inpatient substance use treatment service is on track for early fall, Oxford House has added sober living beds in Monticello, and the Lexington Center for Recovery is preparing to open a site on Broadway pending state approval.
Bridge repairs and replacements
Sullivan County Paving hit substantial completion on the Neversink Crossing — a tentative ribbon cutting is set for Thursday, Sept. 17 at 4 p.m., with a walk across the bridge planned.
Broadband expansion progress
Fiber crews are working through harsh winter conditions on County Route 92 near Tenana Lake. Complaints have been fixed within 24 hours, and officials praised coordination between Archtop, DPW and town crews.
Engineering staffing vacancies
Three engineering positions sit vacant — one for over a year — because consultants are offering new grads $80,000. Committee wants a competitive salary review to land at least two engineers; one vacancy left Roman DiCio running the bridge crew alone.
Veteran homelessness prevention
The county Veterans Service Agency kept five veterans and their families out of temporary housing since the last meeting, largely by securing retroactive disability back pay. New VA programs could pay up to 10 months of back rent and utilities and broaden who counts as 'homeless.'
Failing drainage system on County Road 102
The county wants to fix a failing drainage system on County Road 102 now, before paving next year, so it doesn't dig up fresh pavement later. A modification agreement with Sullivan County Paving for ~$400,000 was forwarded to the Legislature.
Domestic violence in Sullivan County
The county will add three social services positions to form a dedicated Domestic Violence Unit, improving support and coordination for survivors.
Landfill operations and waste-to-energy exploration
Tonnage is up 35% since the solid waste fee change, pushing the landfill toward its 800-ton daily permit cap — hitting that number means closing the gate. The county hopes new rates protect margins while keeping tonnage flowing.
Publicizing domestic violence resources
A retired public health nurse urged the committee to back creating a domestic violence unit to give victims faster, specialized help and work closely with the current provider, Fearless (formerly Safe Homes of Orange and Sullivan). She framed it as long-term protection for children who grow up around violence.
New York Health Act single-payer support letter
Advocates told the committee a white paper finds Sullivan County could save nearly $42 million a year if New York adopts single-payer health care — money that could ease property tax and service-cut pressures. But legislators worried about income tax shifts, patient choice of medications and insurers, and up to 200,000 displaced insurance workers, and the county is staring down a 35% health premium increase this year either way.
County Facility Closure Vote
Sullivan County lawmakers are holding a public vote on whether to shut down Sunset Lake Adult Care Center. If you know someone living there or rely on local senior care, this decision could hit close to home.
Senior Center Closure
Sullivan County officials voted to close the local senior center, and one lawmaker warns the building will just sit empty. If you or your family rely on the center, the closure hits you directly.
September 2026 tax auction bids and sliver-parcel problem
287 parcels are in foreclosure for unpaid 2024 taxes, and $21.8 million in unpaid 2026 taxes was turned over by towns. Homeowners have until June 30 to repurchase without auction fees, and housing agencies are listed on the Treasurer's website.
Adult Care Center closure
Legislator Ward reported Garnet Health Catskills holds patients for months — one for a year — because no long-term care beds can be found, a problem worsened by the county facility's closure.
2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan
The state has approved the county's updated hazard mitigation plan and it's now with FEMA; adopting it keeps the county eligible for hazard mitigation grants. It must be formally re-adopted every five years.
Court Ruling on County Nursing Home Closure
A state Supreme Court judge has ordered Sullivan County’s nursing home to stay open for now, so the Care Center’s closure is on hold while the legal fight continues. That’s a big deal for residents, families, and staff who were facing uncertainty about where care would go.
Nursing Home Closure
A judge has temporarily blocked Sullivan County from closing its nursing home, so residents and families get a breather—but the fight over the facility’s future is still live. If you have a loved one in county care, expect uncertainty and more legal and political back-and-forth before anything is final.
Federal SNAP cost shifts under H.R. 1
New federal rules shift SNAP administrative and benefit costs to counties. The Food Bank says demand is already up 14% and one in four kids is food insecure; the Legislature formally asked Washington for a two-year delay and asked New York State to hold counties harmless.
Legislative ethics and $8 million housing opportunity lost
The county chose a Liberty project for a $1 million state grant to build public infrastructure supporting affordable workforce housing — about 125 rental units for people at 50-80% of median income. Some committee members say the process moved too fast and skipped community input, and that a Fallsburg project already approved by its town board was a safer bet.
Public Health Department restructuring
Multiple speakers urged the committee to reject cutting 19 public health jobs, warning it would be reckless with the adult care center's future uncertain and home health needs growing.
Tourism recovery and lodging tax outlook
Tourism bookings are up year over year, but actual occupancy is still low — about 19% in June and just 5% in September — leaving lots of room to grow the summer economy. Bethel Woods concerts, especially Billy Strings, are the biggest booking driver.
Public health emergency preparedness
A resident warned the county is unprepared for health disasters, citing low vaccination rates (67.5% vs. a 95% herd-immunity threshold), a nearby measles outbreak, abandoned vaccination clinics, and unverified staff emergency-training compliance.
Food insecurity and Single Bite partnership
Fewer people are applying for food stamps even as pantry demand rises — officials think confusing program changes are keeping eligible people from applying. The county is tracking this as a red flag.
Mass party incident response
An internet-advertised party drew 1,000-2,000 people to an Airbnb near Southwoods Road, with initial reports of shootings and sexual assault that were debunked. All county police agencies responded and resolved it within a few hours, but officials said the county must address these recurring events.
County Nursing Home Closure
Sullivan County’s county-owned nursing home in Liberty is closing because it’s losing money. That’s a big deal for residents and families who depend on it for care—and for the workers whose jobs are tied to it.
Failing cardboard baler at recycling facility
The landfill's old baler keeps breaking down and can't be fixed economically. A new one costs about $300,000 but would let the county bale cardboard and roughly double its resale price — legislators agreed to move forward on it.
Bridge projects and flooding response
The Benton Hollow and Ferndale (Fluger Town) bridge decks should be set by October; heavy August rains washed debris into streams but a prior flood project on the Cobertown Road held for the first time in decades. Legislators want a stakeholder meeting on stream cleanouts with DEC, Soil and Water, and Trout Unlimited.
Winter road salt price surge
Other counties' salt bids are coming back 50-60% higher than the county's current $80/ton — potentially half a million dollars more in winter costs. The county is pre-treating roads to stretch salt, but drivers are still short.
Public Health turnover and employee treatment
Former Public Health Director Lise Kennedy told the committee roughly one-third of Public Health staff left in the first half of 2026 and urged legislators to investigate. The Certified Home Health Agency census is down because there aren't enough physical therapists; the department plans to redirect about $104,000 from eliminated roles to hire one.
County Casino Financing
Sullivan County’s casino bet is still not paying off eight years in, and the county just borrowed $585 million to keep the project alive. That’s debt with real consequences for local budgets and taxpayers, so it’s worth watching how the county plans to cover it.
Sullivan O&W Rail Trail Parksville extension funding
The county wants federal money to design safe crossings where the O&W Rail Trail meets local, county, and state roads. If awarded, the grant covers the full cost with no county match.