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As 2004 draws to a close, it is natural to reflect on the past year, take stock of the changes that have taken place, and look at where we are headed. One of my initial goals when I was elected Chairman of the Legislature last January was to restore our citizens' confidence in public service. The financial pressures caused by factors such as increasing Medicaid costs and energy deregulation had resulted in high property tax increases for two years. We needed to stabilize our economic situation and develop a framework for the Legislature to work together as a team for the good of the county. I am happy to say we have made great strides in these areas.

Our 2005 county budget maintains tight controls on spending and holds the line on taxes. We eliminated all debt from the county budget. We faced some tough issues and we are moving forward, knowing that we are making responsible decisions.

With the drastic cuts that were made to the county workforce in 2003, decline in employee morale was a significant challenge. We asked our workforce to be more productive and to do more with less. County workers have gone above and beyond in this respect, and I want to thank all employees, from frontline staff to department heads, for their initiative, for sticking with us, and pulling through.

The health department's procedure for handling the shortage of flu shot vaccine is just one example. We saw on the news long lines of people standing in the cold and trying unsuccessfully to get a flu shot. Our health department staff handled this challenge efficiently and professionally. They set up appointments and gave up a Sunday to run a well-organized clinic. Folks who needed immunizations were in and out in 10 minutes. The department has received several cards and letters thanking them for their service.

We started out the year knowing that we had to tackle some tough financial issues. In order to best meet the needs of our citizens, we need to have a realistic understanding of issues that will impact our county in the future. This year we began a very active strategic planning process. Citizens from business, industry, labor, human services and other community groups were asked to study the services the county provides, look at future needs and other issues, and recommend long-range plans for delivering services. Over 100 meetings and thousands of hours were given to this process over the past several months.

I sat in on many of the meetings and I am struck by the optimism, pride, and belief in the goodness of Oswego County that the committee members share. All of the subcommittees have turned in reports to the strategic planning committee. The steering committee will sort through their recommendations and present them to the legislature. Their work will help shape our county's future.

We enter 2005 in a stronger financial position with exciting new projects ahead of us. I thank my fellow legislators, our county workforce, and the many citizens who have given their time over the past year to Oswego County. I wish all citizens a healthy and happy New Year.