Sullivan County’s “Low Tax” Budget: Don’t Be Fooled!

Dear Friends and Neighbors

 Sullivan County residents may have breathed a sigh of relief when the 2026 budget passed with only a 2% property tax increase, far below the initially proposed 9.1%. But look closer — the smaller number does not mean the county has fixed its spending problem.

The final budget totals $305.7 million, virtually the same as the tentative plan. The difference? How the numbers were shuffled, not how money is actually being spent.

What Didn’t Change
Despite complaints from residents, nothing meaningful was cut. Programs weren’t eliminated. Departments weren’t consolidated. Staff levels weren’t reduced. And long-term costs — salaries, health insurance, and pensions — actually rose by $7.5 million.

How the “2% Tax Increase” Was Really Achieved
The county got the number down through short-term maneuvers:
1. Tapping Reserves – $5.5 million in one-time funds were used to cover ongoing costs. That’s money that won’t be there next year.
2. Optimistic Revenue Assumptions – The county Treasurer herself said she does not stand by these projections.
3. Ignoring Big Costs – Long-term problems, like the $5 million investment in the Adult Care Center at Sunset Lake, remain unresolved. No reforms. No exit plan.

Red Flags Were Ignored
Legislators openly warned the budget is “structurally broken” and “reckless.” Even those who voted yes admitted it’s short-term and risky.

Politics Over Responsibility
The timing is telling. The 9.1% increase caused public outrage, so the numbers were shuffled after the backlash to appear under the tax cap. Staying under the cap looks good, but it doesn’t solve the county’s financial problems.

Kicking the Can Down the Road
By using one-time fixes and optimistic projections, the county is setting up:
• Bigger tax increases next year
• Emergency budget fixes
• Reduced ability to respond to economic trouble

Legislators themselves expect bigger challenges in the near future — a clear warning that this “low tax” budget is not sustainable.

The Bottom Line
A 2% tax increase may look like a victory for taxpayers, but it is not a victory for fiscal responsibility. The leadership in place is delaying the hard decisions, shuffling numbers, and hoping the problems disappear.

Residents need to pay attention: this budget is a temporary illusion, and the consequences will hit well before the November 2026 election.

Sullivan County voters deserve leadership that is honest about costs, willing to make tough choices, and capable of running the county without passing the buck to future budgets.

Fallsburg's Future is a community network of concerned Fallsburg residents established in January 2016. Its Mission is to help guide the urban development of the town of Fallsburg and its five hamlets, to promote its sustainable economic development, protect the fragile beauty of its natural habitats and enhance the opportunities and quality of life for all its residents and visitors. We hope to curb the suburban sprawl that is threatening to overwhelm the town’s physical infrastructure and destroy the natural beauty that the area depends on for its future development. See us on Facebook and our website Fallsburgsfuture.com.