By Missy Hayes

Community Columnist

I have serious concerns for the future of the community my family and I call home. When the Chenango County Supervisors decided to pursue the $35 million office building project, I knew their priorities were quite different than my “taxpayer expectations” and I thought this may be true for others.

After speaking with many residents, I’m respectfully requesting that the Chenango County Supervisors temporarily PAUSE making a decision about this project for all the following reasons.

Chenango County faces a declining and aging population. Using figures from the Cornell Program on Applied Demographics report, Chenango County’s population was 51,768 in 1990 and is projected to decline to 44,497 by 2030, about a 14% decrease.

Yet, according to tax-rates.org, the median property tax bill in Chenango County was $1250 in 1990 and about $3000 in 2025, a 140% increase even though home values rose modestly. The population declines but county spending increases. New York State already has some of the highest property taxes in the United States. For residents with modest incomes and fixed retirement budgets, even relatively small tax increases can have significant impacts. Need a few more reasons?

Energy costs are skyrocketing. This is a crisis! EmpireCenter.org published a press release this month that said New Yorkers pay some of the highest energy prices in the nation. “In December, the state’s average residential electricity price reached 27.39 cents per kilowatt-hour—sixth highest in the U.S. and 59 percent above the national average.” Now, most households are struggling to pay all their bills.

As mentioned previously, Chenango County’s population is aging. Our median age is approximately 45-46 years (NYS is 39) and more than 22% of county residents are age 65 or older. As the population continues to age, demand for government services will increase, workforce availability will decline as will the tax base. Need more reasons?

Many New York State factors are affecting migration to other states. New York ranks among the states with the highest combined property, income and business taxes in the nation. The state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) is contributing to high energy costs. Add to this bail reform releasing criminals back into our communities, the homeless crisis, and New York’s complex regulatory environment, and we will see many people and businesses leaving New York. As a result, more population decline is inevitable, and possibly the decline in the county’s sales tax income.

The county’s DPW site has been crumbling around their employees for more than 10 years. The 1960 wing of the office building also has issues. There is a leachate problem at the Pharsalia landfill and so the county now pays to truck leachate to Watertown. My perception is that the county’s “system” to manage these services and buildings is to put them on the back burner until they can no longer ignore the problems!

And then there’s a rush to correct issues – which is why I feel this new office building project is being pushed through. There are vacant buildings in Norwich that can be renovated for county use at a lower cost, a win-win for the county and taxpayers. The newer wing of the county building was built so another floor could be added in the future, and the elevator and HVAC system were installed accordingly. Other options?

One of many questions I have is what else could $35 million provide to this county, other than the newest and nicest tax-exempt building in Norwich? Economic development to bring more business to the county, a solution to the electric affordability crisis, more public safety services, updating aging infrastructure, a better system for EMS? I think the list is fairly long, and affordability and accountability need to be at the forefront because they are key! One more reason?

Due to New York’s new even- year election law, the majority of county supervisors need to run for re-election this year. You may have been asked to sign a petition as they are required to get a certain number of signatures to be put on the ballot.

So, my last reason for this PAUSE is to allow the supervisors who will be elected into office for 2027-2028 to make this decision. This decision impacts all taxpayers, and the current elected officials have not been willing to survey their constituents or have a town hall style meeting so questions can be asked and answered. Taxpayers elect the supervisors and we are entrusting them to manage public money, public assets and policies that directly affect our lives! Shouldn’t taxpayers expect accountability to ensure that government decisions reflect the priorities and interests of the people who fund it and live here? This is why I’m writing today. What can you do? Call or write to your supervisor today and ask them to PAUSE this decision!