How Did $5 Million Boon Become $9 Million Gap? – All Otsego

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THE COUNTY BEAT

How Did $5 Million Boon

Become $9 Million Gap?

Treasurer Explains County's Changing Fortunes

County Treasurer Dan Crowell, center left, and county Rep. Don Lindberg, R-Worcester, center right, the Budge Review Committee chair, lead discussion at a meeting a week ago Monday. Clockwise from Lindberg are
County Treasurer Dan Crowell, center left, and county Rep. Don Lindberg, R-Worcester, center right, the Budge Review Committee chair, lead discussion at a meeting a week ago Monday. Clockwise from Lindberg are County Rep. Rick Hulse, R-Fly Creek, County Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr., County Reps. Kay Stuligross, D-Oneonta, Craig Gelbsman, R-Oneonta, and Ed Lentz, D-New Lisbon, and Clerk of the Board Carol McGovern.  (Don Mathisen/AllOTSEGO.com)

By DON MATHISEN • for AllOTSEGO.com

COOPERSTOWN – How did Otsego County go from a prospective $5 million surplus with last year’s sale of Otsego Manor to a $9 million budget gap?

The question is being raised as county representatives prepare the 2016 budget.

According to County Treasurer Dan Crowell, the surplus never materialized.

It evaporated when Otsego Manor legacy costs proved to be $1.8 million, sales-tax collections declined because of cheaper gas prices and an increase in online sales, and the cost of the emergency tower communication system currently being built was factored in.

Then when department heads submitted their wish lists for the 2016 budget, the county was facing a $9.2 million gap – Manor legacy cost, continuing sales-tax shortfalls, and the towers driving the gap.

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