Garnar Reports on the State of Broome County

After setting a timer so he could make it to his son’s basketball game, Broome County Executive Jason Garnar got down to business delivering his first State of the County Address February 16 that focuses heavily on the County’s drug epidemic problem and the economy.

The Democrat says since he took office in January and put a hiring freeze in place, the County has saved $90,000.

He says he is also working on outreach and education to deal with heroin use.  He says he wants the County Emergency Services Coordinator to work with the administration to develop a datatbase on the use of the drug that reverses an overdose

Garnar says he has a focus ahead on the Greater Binghamton Airport and will announce an action plan for the Broome County Airport soon.  He says his administration is working with Binghamton University and SUNY Broome on ideas for developing the airport that now only has Delta Airlines serving the area. February 15, the last American Airlines-affiliated flight departed the Binghamton Airport for the last time.

While Garnar says he has an optimistic view of the County’s future, he called Broome’s financial situation precarious and said the fund balance had been falling.  Earlier this year, Garnar asked the New York State Comptroller for a full audit of the County finances.