County examines sheriff's budget

NORWICH – The county’s lead financial planners this week mulled over the four tentative budgets that comprise the Chenango County Sheriff’s Department for next year, projected to cost local taxpayers $2.9 million.

The combined spending plan for the new facility, safety and emergency services is $6 million.

Despite an increased payroll of about $1 million for corrections officers, plus additional utilities, food and other costs associated with operating the one-year-old Public Safety Facility, officials felt safe estimating only a slight increase over last year’s local share on the levy.

The $26 million complex, completed last November, was afforded by $8 million in eight-year bonds and $6 million in five-year bond anticipation notes. The other $12 million came from surplus and from revenues generated by the 1 percent increase in the county sales tax.

Officials reported a balance of $4 million from sales tax earlier this summer, enough to make loan payments this year and next.

“I’ve been waiting to see and I’m happy to see that line item showing zero for the temporary confinement of prisoners,” Dennis Brown, D-Pharsalia, told his fellow members of the Finance Committee. The new facility is currently farming in 47 inmates and has collected revenues of $350,000 to date.

“Increasing food costs by $100,000 or whatever the number ends up being to do this versus the several hundred thousands of dollars we’ll get from farming in is worth it,” Sheriff Thomas J. Loughren said. “I feel a lot better about things than I did six months ago. We could anticipate $1 million per year.”