Washington County committees approve $817,000 in contracts and amendments; sales-tax hike undecided
Washington County's Finance Committee approved more than $817,000 in budget amendments and contracts at its July 9 meeting, including a $379,862 amendment to the Department of Public Works snow and ice agreement — the largest single item acted on across recent committee meetings. A proposed sales-tax increase was discussed but no final decision was made.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee, meeting July 9, approved several budget amendments and contracts:
- **$379,862** amendment to the DPW Municipal Snow & Ice Agreement.
- **$175,000** contract for a licensed social worker for the Sheriff's Office.
- **$262,282** nursing services contract for the Washington County Jail.
- **$95,082.72** mini-bid for a DSS small SUV awarded to G and H Auto Group.
- **$82,807** budget amendment for AI Powered Caseworker Assistant software at DSS.
The committee also amended the Title-by-Grade schedule to replace a Highway Worker I (seasonal) title with a Highway Worker (summer seasonal) title and added a part-time Caseworker Assistant at Grade 12. A Standard Work Day and Reporting Resolution for officials was adopted, and a motion directing backfill requests to department oversight committees before Personnel Committee review was adopted. The committee accepted its June 11 minutes.
No final decision was made on a proposed sales-tax increase.
Personnel Committee
Also meeting July 9, the Personnel Committee approved backfill appointments for DPW, DSS, the District Attorney, and the Youth Bureau. It amended the non-union Title-by-Grade schedule to remove Highway Worker I (seasonal) and add Highway Worker (summer seasonal) at Grade 9, with a rate of $21.69. A part-time Caseworker Assistant was added to the non-union schedule at Grade 12, with a rate of $25.08.
The committee authorized the Treasurer to create payroll slots for temporary appointments approved by the Personnel Officer. It entered executive session to discuss a specific individual's confidential information and then returned to regular session. The June 11, 2026 minutes were accepted.
Audit Committee
On July 15, the Audit Committee approved payment of stale vouchers totaling $24,709.88. It also approved prepaying two bills: a $106,277.96 camera-licensing bill from Shi International and a $77,555.50 culvert bill from Fort Miller. A motion to pay all bills as audited was adopted. All motions were adopted without recorded vote tallies. The committee accepted its June 16 minutes.
Board of Supervisors
The Washington County Board of Supervisors was scheduled to hold a regular meeting July 17 at the County Municipal Center in Fort Edward, in the Supervisors' Chambers. The meeting was open to the public via a live YouTube stream. Minutes from that meeting have not yet been published. The resolution deadline was July 9, and the typed resolution deadline was July 16.
The Personnel Committee was also scheduled to reconvene July 17 at 8:30 AM in Room B214, County Office Building B. The notice did not list specific agenda items, indicating the meeting would continue work from the July 9 session. Minutes are not yet published.
Coming up
Three committees meet Tuesday, July 21:
- **Agriculture, Planning, Tourism & Community Development Committee** — will review the Tri-County Workforce Development Board PY26 budget, discuss tourism updates, review new septic grant funding, and review Ag District #3 and #24.
- **Government Operations Committee** — will discuss a proposed staffing change from Clerk to Account Clerk for the County Clerk, review a 2026 Election Grant for $13,278.60 and a 2026 Mail Ballot Grant for $15,378.44, consider a County Administrator Discrimination/Harassment Policy, and review the County Clerk 2026 budget update.
- **Information Technology Committee** — will review projects, ticketing, and cyber security reports.