Broome County Executive Jason Garnar highlighted past accomplishments and laid out his vision for the coming year in a State of the County address Wednesday.
"I've never felt better about the state of Broome County and we should all be proud of the role that we played to help get us here,” Garnar said, speaking in the bays of the Endwell Fire Department Wednesday.
Garnar spoke to what he sees as accomplishments from the past year. This includes receiving millions of dollars from a court settlement with opioid distributors, implementation of cameras on school bus stop arms, and economic development projects around Broome County.
Garnar warned that the county is at financial risk if lawmakers in Albany change the way Medicaid funds are disbursed, as was proposed by Governor Kathy Hochul.
"If this proposal makes it into the state budget, Broome County will see an immediate $5 million hit,” Garnar said.
Additionally, Garnar set a goal of deploying internet access to all Broome County residents within the next five years.
"It is my goal, that within the next five years every single Broome County resident will be connected to high speed internet,” Garnar said.
Garnar, a Democrat, was joined by elected officials of both parties during the address, including District Attorney Mike Korchak and Sheriff Fred Akshar.