LEGISLATURE STUFF - Spending and Saving

CATSKILL - It is no different for Greene County Legislature members than anybody else when it comes to taking out the garbage.

Lawmakers, at their recent, final meeting of 2025, okayed some resolutions related to paying for trash removal as well as other daily necessities.

Government leaders also gave fiscal attention to senior citizens and persons with disabilities and their payment of real property taxes.

The job of trucking refuse from certain county facilities was given to County Waste, based in Clifton Park, on the recommendation of Buildings & Grounds superintendent Craig Seaburg.

Three bids were received. County Waste offered the lowest responsible bid and will continue providing the service, as follows (monthly):

—Buildings and Grounds, lower lot in Catskill ($554.27, an increase of $34.64 from last year); Cairo Office Building ($207.84, up $12.99);

Greene County Sheriff and Jail in Coxsackie ($277.12, up $17.32); Greene County Sheriff and Jail recycle ($173.20, up $17.32); 

Department of Aging, Rivertown Senior Center ($277.12, up $17.32), Department of Aging, Rivertown Senior Center recycle ($86.60, up $8.66);

Department of Aging, Coxsackie Senior Center ($79.33, up $4.33); Department of Aging, Coxsackie Senior Center recycle ($79.33, up $4.33);

Department of Aging, Catskill Senior Center ($79.33, up $4.33); Veterans Center ($138.56, no change); Fire Training Center in Cairo (no monthly fee, $265 to empty when needed plus $142 per ton);

Historic Catskill Point ($277.12, up $17.32 with an additional $80 for extra pickups in October and a $277.12 charge an 8 yard dumpster in October),

Lawmakers similarly approved monthly cleaning services for various county buildings following the required bidding process.

Six bids were received with the job awarded to Dr. Kleen, headquartered in 

Athens, as follows: Greene County Courthouse, Catskill ($5,445.64);

Greene County Justice Center ($3,250), Greene County Sheriff’s Office ($3,189.71) and Greene County Visitor’s Center( $1,300).

Cleaning services will be provided by county Buildings & Grounds staff at the Greene County Office Building (Catskill), the Emergency Operations Center (Cairo), Greene County Mental Health (Cairo) and the main Buildings and Grounds facility.

Turning their collective attention to the county’s more elderly residents (65 years and older) and persons with disabilities and with limited incomes, lawmakers approved an increase in their annual tax exemptions.

The owners of real property in those situations, “shall be exempt from county taxes to the extent of 50 percent of the assessed valuation” after meeting specific qualifications, the resolution states.

Eligibility is determined on a sliding scale on income that, “must not exceed $37,000,” to attain the maximum exemption of 50 percent.

In a letter to lawmakers, Greene County Real Property Tax Services director Raymond Ward explained, “each year [the legislature] reviews the maximum income limits” for senior citizens.

“Historically, over the past 20 years, there has been average of 916 senior exemptions and 85 persons with disabilities exemptions in each roll year,” Ward stated.

“To keep these taxpayers within the exemptions, the county has adjusted the maximum income limit to be in line with the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA),” Ward stated.

“The COLA for 2026 is currently projected to be 2.7 percent. The current income limits for 2025 are $36,000 to $44,399.99, for a 50 percent to 5 percent exemption, respectively,” Ward stated.

During a legislative workshop, this past summer, “I reviewed with you the analysis to justify an increase in the maximum income limits for both exemptions,” Ward stated.

In order to receive the maximum exemption of 50 percent, a person cannot have income above $37,000, incrementally dropping to 5 percent if their income is in the $44,500 to $45,399.99 range.

The income limit has risen considerably over the last two decades, going from $16,000 in 2004 to the new rate of $37,000 in 2026.