To the Editor:
A clear mandate was delivered last November when I was elected to represent the people of Sullivan County. I recognize the frustration of the voters, and take seriously the challenge to turn that into a 
renewed sense of hope. I made a personal promise to demand accountability on behalf of our county taxpayers as it is becoming increasingly difficult to afford to live in our beautiful county.
New York State imposes numerous unfunded mandates upon county governments. Nine state programs consume more than 93 % of our county’s tax levy. This is no longer sustainable. Coupled with an increasing number of tax exempt properties, many taxpayers are finding it more difficult to make ends meet resulting in the loss of their homes or businesses.
As your County Legislator, I realize the dilemma of trying to appropriate funds sufficient to maintain essential services without increasing taxes. The sad part is that county taxpayers are no longer capable of carrying the burden. With the median salary of our Sullivan County taxpayers at approximately $30,000 and State and Federal mandates and entitlement programs escalating out of control, an increasing number of our taxpayers are now becoming eligible for social services themselves. There is something wrong with this picture. We must live within our taxpayers’ means.
I have dedicated my time in county government to researching every decision that comes before me while working toward the good of our 70,000 Sullivan County residents and not a select few. Asking the hard questions is imperative for accountability of our tax dollars spent. Equally important is working toward opening up government by encouraging a bipartisan effort to conduct more open meetings to keep our county residents informed. Gone should be the days of conducting public business in a closed door manner.
My efforts, in cooperation with the SC Farm Network, in conducting the successful Firehouse Forum on Rural Economic Development proved the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in Sullivan County. Many of our residents desire to start-up and expand local businesses and this should be aggressively nurtured through small business grant programs. I continue to work to increase efforts to encourage small private sector business with initiatives that for too long have been overlooked as efforts have focused on those businesses over $300,000. Efforts of economic development need to be equally extended to the rural areas of our county.
Equally successful was a bipartisan effort, along with Legislators Cora Edwards and Kitty Vetter, to conduct a local forum on Taxes and Mandate Reform educating the public while listening to the peoples’ main concerns- the escalating granting of tax exempt properties and the overburden of county social service entitlements. It is time to address these issues and listen to the peoples’ voice.
Protecting the health and safety of Sullivan County residents from a repeat scenario of water contamination such as occurred 20 years ago in the county is also paramount. Any gas company transporting or disposing of toxic hazardous chemicals in Sullivan County should not be given a free ticket. My responsibility as a former SC Public Health nurse is to work toward making sure a Public Health Impact Assessment is carried out outlining the known risks. We the people deserve this.
Lastly, my efforts continue to unfold to increase the works of one of our top economic stimulators. By establishing the first Agricultural Advisory Committee in conjunction with our county commitment to agriculture by preserving our full time agricultural planner, we are on our way to encourage agricultural growth. Our current Legislature is equally committed to increase works of renewable energy through our county Sustainability Department (SASD). As the Industrial Development Association ( IDA) works to advance the Red Meat facility and increase efforts at reaching out to small business, the legislature looks forward to taking the lead in working toward including agriculture as a vital piece of economic development.
As I work along with my fellow legislators to advance these works and others I welcome your input.
Please contact me.
Cindy Kurpil Gieger, Sullivan County Legislator
1-845-807-0435
The Catskill Chronicle 
We need more of such reports from our Legislators. With all the problems in US government, it gives us some hope that our local representatives are working hard to do whatever is possible to represent our needs and interests . I know that Cindy doesn’t just go to one meeting after he other and consider it done….she researches and studies and always has our concerns as her major interest.