Garnar Proposes $402 Million Broome County Spending Plan

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar has released a $402 million budget proposal for the coming year.

The 2021 spending plan is about $1 million higher than the proposal Garnar submitted to the legislature for this year.

In his budget message Thursday, Garnar said the proposal would reduce the county property tax levy by one-tenth of one percent.

Garnar said the spending plan was developed as the county continued to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, which he called "one of the toughest challenges we have ever seen."

The county executive said the proposed budget would maintain many services and programs that have been vital in addressing the issues created as the result of the pandemic.

Garnar said he is proposing adding two positions in the Office of Emergency Services. One of those posts is to be dedicated to supporting the ongoing pandemic response efforts.

The county legislature will review the plan over the next several weeks.