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The Washington County Board of Supervisors is considering a slew of budget amendments to the 2010 spending plan.

The Wash will provide a blow-by-blow update so please check back for updates.

11:55: The meeting’s over, please check back later for the story.

11:46: Rodger Hurley of Granville says the county needs a planning department if it wants to map out its future. “We should have a more specific development taking into account the developments taking place south of us,” Hurley said.

11:43: Hartford Supervisor Nancy Hall notes that the supervisors propse cuts and then back off every year. People don’t want high taxes, but they also want services, she said.

11:41: Jackson Supervisor Alan Brown notes again the board could appoint the extension director Brian Gilchrist to planner. Hall counters that the supervisors could possibly eliminate the planning department altogether because it isn’t mandated.

11:34: Granville Supervisor Rodger Hurley on the budget-making process:
“The budget process has been confused, at best, and at worst, a circus to rival what’s held in Madison Square Garden. I think if we get to this earlier in the year, we wouldn’t have this.”

11:25: Gayle Hall just pulled the budget. We’ll have to wait unitl next month.

11:22: Supervisors approved the abolishing of the deputy public works position, with Bob Banks of Dresden and John LaPointe of Putnam voting no.

11:19: The Adirondack Community College’s funding was approved out of the contingency budget. “Even though this is using some of our money, it’s an important thing to have funded,” said Cambridge Supervisor JoAnn Trinkle

11:04: Argyle Supervisor Bob Henke gave a brief speech stating that he was opposed using economic stimulus money to balance the budget.

10:58: Supervisors approved the bid for a light fixture project at the municipal center. The contract award: $74,337.

10:53:  Supervisors are passing a series of fairly run-of-the-mill resolutions that would, for instance, reassess unpaid water rents for Fort Edward.

10:47: And now we’re onto the resolutions.

10:44: Tim Havens, a Hudson Falls business owner, said the furloughs don’t go far enough. He said layoffs are a better option and would save the county far more money. On the transfer stations: “I just don’t think it’s a luxury that we can continue the way we are.”

10:39: Recycling advocate Tracy Frisch scolded supervisors for scaling back the funding at the transfer stations in the last several years. She continues to beat the drum that the facilities could be hit with another cut.

10:35: Alan Brown, the Jackson supervisor, wants to have some discussion on the budget anyway so the issues can be fleshed out by supervisors. The full board meets again on Dec. 4.

10:33: Reisman’s verdict: This budget isn’t getting passed today.

10:30: Don Wilbur says the board lacks $800,000 to reduce the tax levy. The board must also resolve issues with cutting the half-percent from each county department.

10:26: Gayle Hall, the budget officer, is passing out a document outlining the recent Finance Committee actions. She wants to schedule more budget meetings.

“We seem to be piecing together a document that doesn’t accomplish what we were tasked to do,” she said.

The document also includes a “what if” scenario of what would happen if the budget was approved with the finance panel’s suggestions.

10:18: The mortgage tax revenue as of Sept. 30 was $559,000 for the entire year. The county is $525,000 share is $515,000.

10:14: Supervisors hear a presentation from the Adirondack/Glens Falls Transportation Council. To view the long-range plan from the council, check out www.agftc.org.  

10:11: Audience check — about 45 people are attending the meeting, including Adirondack Community College President Ronald Heacock and Sheriff Roger Leclaire.

10:07: Dieter Drake of Cambridge gives a presentation on the 2010 Tour of the Battenkill cycling race. The event is a pretty big one in Washington County. The 2009 event was quite an undertaking for the county, he said, and thanked the supervisors for their support. For next year, a team from Great Britain is coming to the race and it will be held over two weekends, April 10 and April 17.

10:05 — A public hearing is being gaveled in for Local Law D, a measure that would lay down guidelines for publishing official notices in newspapers. Closed at 10:07. That was fast.