Board adopts Columbia Green Community College 2025–26 operating budget after public hearing; supervisors seek closer finance oversight

The Columbia County Board of Supervisors opened a public hearing Aug. 13, 2025, on the Columbia Green Community College proposed 2025 6 operating budget and then closed the hearing before voting to adopt the budget resolution. The hearing was held in the Board of Supervisors Chambers at 401 State Street in Hudson and was noticed for 7 p.m.

Supervisor Ryan Eldridge (Town of Greenport) said he would vote yes on the budget but asked for stronger finance-committee oversight of the college so the institution remains oriented to the local community. "I will vote yes on the budget, but I strongly suggest and would appreciate finance committee oversight of the college so that we can best support the community orientation of our community college," Eldridge said during the hearing. Several other supervisors said they wanted more written detail and follow-up on staffing and enrollment concerns raised during the hearing.

Supervisor Brenda Adams said she sat in prior budget meetings with college representatives and understood some staffing levels were dictated by state regulations; she asked for a written copy of the objections raised during public comment so supervisors could investigate them further before future votes. County finance staff and supervisors said they had been meeting with college officials, that the college agreed to adopt a fund-balance policy like the county's, and that the college's numbers were lower than in prior years.

The public hearing record shows that comments received at the hearing were limited to the college budget. The board closed the hearing and proceeded with routine business; later in the meeting the board recorded a roll-call vote on the related budget resolution(s) and the clerk announced that the resolution(s) passed.

The board also indicated it will receive quarterly financial information from the college and that the county finance committee will continue to meet with college staff to monitor implementation of the fund-balance policy and other corrective steps. The budget resolution and supporting documents are available in the clerk's office and on the Board of Supervisors website.

Less critical details: the hearing notice, read into the record by the clerk, cited the time and place as Aug. 13, 2025, at 7 p.m. in the Board chambers and stated that all persons interested would be heard on the proposed 2025 6 operating budget. No dollar totals or enrollment figures were specified in the public hearing record presented at the meeting.