BATH -- A public hearing on a proposed local law is set for 10 a.m. Monday at the County Office Building followed by a vote on the law in regular session by the Steuben County Legislature. If adopted by legislators, the law would allow the county District Attorney’s office to give drivers charged with traffic violations and related misdemeanors the option of taking a driver education program approved by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Supporters say the diversion program will allow drivers to improve their skills and increase road safety in the county. Fees associated with the program would be handled by the county Finance Office. The county board also is expected to accept $45, 027 from New York State for costs connected to the state’s Early Voting reforms. Steuben will begin offering Early Voting Saturday at the county Annex, with Nov. 3 being the last day for casting ballots before the Nov. 5 General Election. Monday is shaping up to be a busy one for Steuben legislators. In addition to brief committee meetings required for legislative agenda items, the county Legislature’s Finance Committee will meet after the county Legislature’s regular session for a second look at developing the 2020 budget. The committee members face the annual challenge of providing services to county residents and developing a solid economic base while state-mandated costs add significant expense to the budget each year.
Anticipated expenses in 2020 include soaring costs for the county District Attorney’s office and Sheriff’s Department due to requirements in the state’s Criminal Justice Reform Act and the new centralized arraignment system imposed by the state in early 2019. Costs in the district attorney and sheriff’s offices are expected to continue to rise next year, with more changes to the state’s criminal procedure law expected to take effect Jan. 1. Steuben’s current budget is $191 million with a property tax levy of $50 million. The current average tax rate is $8.25 per $1,000 assessed value, slightly less than the rate in 2018.
