genesee county treasurer

Village and town property owners left Genesee County on the hook for delinquent water, sewer and school taxes worth more than $2.3 million for 2024, and the respective amounts are to be included in the county and town/village tax levies -- some of which for an extra fee.

The Legislature approved several resolutions Wednesday, including those related to the unpaid tax and utility payments.

Legislators agreed to add the following delinquent water/sewer accounts to town tax levies:

• Alabama $14,144.17
• Alexander $3,718.89
• Batavia $75,310.57
• Bergen $1,746.83
• Bethany $417.69
• Byron $33,419.52
• Darien $17,233.81
• Elba $4,468.89
• Oakfield $390.72
• Pavilion $13,508.75
• Pembroke $1,151.80
• Stafford $370.35

Total: $165,881.99

Budget Impact: The County’s share of the total amount collected is $10,852.11. 

The Real Property tax law requires that, by Nov. 15, 2024, all rural Genesee County school districts return their respective unpaid 2024-2025 school taxes to the county treasurer for inclusion in the 2025 county and town tax levy. 

The following amounts are to be re-levied against the various towns of the County of Genesee as specified:   

• Alabama $79,068.82
• Alexander $141,811.41
• Batavia $148,045.22
• Bergen $128,073.33
• Bethany $58,052.06
• Byron $106,514.76
• Darien $266,217.04
• Elba $98,654.88
• LeRoy $340,266.50
• Oakfield $103,677.72
• Pavilion $72,882.73
• Pembroke $390,049.17
• Stafford $99,346.79

Total: $2,032,660.43

Budget Impact: The county makes the school districts whole for their portion and retains a 7% fee. The 2024 total was $2,081,259.37.

The unpaid village taxes will also be re-levied as part of the 2025 town and county levy.

The following amounts are to be re-levied against the various villages in the County of Genesee as follows: 

• Alexander $2,336.63
• Attica $190.13
• Bergen $4,624.48
• Elba $4,038.26
• LeRoy $91,659.49
• Oakfield $5,695.34
• Corfu $2,009.25

Total: $110,553.58

Budget Impact: The County makes the Villages whole for their portion and retains a 7% fee. The 2024 total was $127,544.41.

In related tax collection resolutions, the Legislature also approved the county treasurer assisting in collecting the 2025 town/county tax bills for the Town of Alexander, per the supervisor’s request. The Genesee County treasurer is willing to collect the 2025 Town/County taxes on behalf of the Town of Alexander for a fee of $7,500 to cover the cost of providing the tax collection services.

In turn, Treasurer Kevin Andrews has requested to hire a temporary financial clerk-typist to assist with collecting these taxes. The position will be funded by the revenue received from the tax collection agreement with the Town of Alexander.

The Genesee County treasurer and Human Resources director were then directed to amend the 2025 Employee Salary Schedule by establishing a temporary position of financial clerk-typist, CSEA Grade 9, in the Treasurer’s Office, with varying hours not exceeding 37.5 hours per week from Jan. 6, 2025, to April 30, 2025.

The 2025 Genesee County budget is to be amended as follows:

• Increase Appropriation A.1325 1010.0000 Personal Services by $6,967
• Increase Appropriation A.1325 8010.0000 Social Security Tax by $432
• Increase Appropriation A.1325 8011.0000 Medicare Tax by $101
• Increase Revenue A.1325 1230 Treasurer Fees by $7,500

Budget Impact: Increased appropriations of $7,500 offset by increased revenue from the Town of Alexander in a like amount.

In an unrelated approval, the Legislature agreed to renew the county’s Economic Development Center contract for $233,513 plus $25,000 for workforce training program administration. The contract runs from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2025, and will be paid in regular installments upon receipt of proper vouchers. 

The financial history of payments to GCEDC includes a low of $193,513 in 2017 and 2018, which then jumped to $233,513 in 2019 and has remained for subsequent years. The additional $25,000 began in 2022.

• 2024 = $233,513 + $25,000 workforce training program administration
• 2023 = $233,513 + $25,000 workforce training program administration
• 2022 = $233,513 + $25,000 workforce training program administration
• 2021 = $233,513
• 2020 = $233,513
• 2019 = $233,513
• 2018 = $193,513
• 2017=$193,513 – 10% reduction in funding or $21,501 less
• 2016=$215,014
• 2015=$215,014
• 2014= $215,014
• 2013= $215,014
• 2012 = $215,014; 5% reduction in funding or $11,317 less
• 2011 = $226,330; 15% reduction in funding or $29,942 less
• 2010 = $266,271; 5% reduction in funding or $14,014 less
• 2009 to 2006 funding = $280,285
• 2005 to 2003 = $275,285

Press Release:

Genesee County Deputy Treasurer and Director of Real Property Tax Services Kevin J. Andrews announces that he is running for Genesee County Treasurer in this year’s elections. 

Mr. Andrews has nearly 14 years of experience in the Genesee County Treasurer’s Office. Kevin started his career as Deputy Director of Real Property Tax Services shortly after the Real Property Department was merged into the Treasurer’s Office. 

In 2013, he was appointed Director of Real Property Tax Services, and he completed the certification training program from New York State to become a Certified County Director. 

In January of 2015, he was appointed Deputy Treasurer by current County Treasurer Scott D. German. This mix of experience will be beneficial to Kevin in managing all of the operations of the Genesee County Treasurer’s Office.

In his role as Deputy Treasurer, Kevin has gained experience with managing the county’s financial operations, including issuing and refunding bonds, managing cash flows and investments, and financial reporting. 

He has helped to implement new accounting standards from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), such as additional accounting requirements for pensions (GASB 68) and new accounting requirements for leases (GASB 87). 

He has also helped to modernize and increase the efficiency of procedures within the Treasurer’s Office over his tenure.

Kevin is a lifelong resident of Genesee County, having grown up in the Town of Elba and now living in the Town of Le Roy along with his wife and three children. Kevin graduated at the top of his class from Elba Central School. He then went on to attend college at the University of Rochester, where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Financial Economics and Mathematical Statistics.

“If I am elected as County Treasurer, I plan to manage the fiscal operations of Genesee County in a responsible, accurate, and transparent manner. I would also like to continue making progress on modernizing processes within the Treasurer’s Office to increase efficiencies both internally with other county departments as well as externally with the public,” Kevin said.

Press Release:

Genesee County Treasurer Scott D. German has announced that after five terms as Treasurer and what will be 31 years in the County Treasurer’s Office at year-end 2024, he will not be seeking another term as County Treasurer so that he can pursue other opportunities. 

German started his career on Jan. 1, 1994, as Deputy Treasurer, becoming County Treasurer on May 1, 2004, by appointment by then Governor George Pataki. Mr. German was elected County Treasurer in November of 2004 and has run four additional times.

Treasurer German was elected by his fellow New York State County Treasurers to serve as President of the New York State County Treasurers and Finance Officers Association in 2012. In 2016, German was named New York State Finance Officer of the Year by his peers.

For the past 10 years, German has been one of two New York State Directors to the National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers, and Finance Officers (NACCTFO), an elected position by his New York State colleagues.

In 2020, Mr. German was presented the Inaugural National Leadership Award from a Pittsford NY company Three + One, which does business with hundreds of municipalities nationwide in assisting with liquidity analysis. German was presented this award for his role in maximizing the return on Genesee County’s cash.

Mr. German wishes to thank the voters of Genesee County for the last 20 years for entrusting him with the county’s finances. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of this county as the county’s Chief Fiscal Officer,” German said. 

“I wish to thank all the county legislators that he had the opportunity to work with and the Genesee County Republican Committee for their support over the last 20 years. I’d also like to thank all of the employees of the Treasurer’s Office who I have had the pleasure to work with over the last 31 years. It is those employees that I owe a debt of gratitude to for their work that has allowed me to be a successful County Treasurer.”

German also wishes to thank his three deputies for their loyalty, dedication, and hard work over the last 21 years. They are L. Matthew Landers who served 10 years, James Stack for one year, and Kevin J. Andrews for the final 10 years of German’s tenure as County Treasurer.

Press release:

Genesee County Treasurer Scott D. German announced today (Jan. 20) that he will be seeking a fifth term as County Treasurer in November’s election.

German is in his 27th year in the office, the last 16 of which have been as Treasurer. Among the many accomplishments of the Treasurer’s Office is the extremely successful refinancing of county debt, which saved Genesee County taxpayers more than $1,000,000 in interest expense over six years.

German also hired the firm of Three + One to assist him in maximizing interest earnings while minimizing risk and complying with state regulations. In 2019, German earned more than $1.6 million in interest for the taxpayers. 

As Treasurer, German is the chief fiscal officer and tax enforcement officer for the County. Among a wide range of responsibilities as County Treasurer, German is responsible for: the safeguarding of all county monies; the processing of county payroll; the processing of vendor payments; collection of delinquent taxes; tax foreclosures; maintaining the financial records; overseeing of the independent audit; and working with state and federal auditors.

German hopes the voters of Genesee County return him to office this November so he can continue serving the people of this fine county.

German holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a concentration in Finance from the State University of New York, College at Brockport.

German is a past President (2012) of the New York State County Treasurers and Finance Officers Association; 2016 Finance Officer of the Year and currently serves as one of two New York State delegates to the National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers & Finance Officers.

He is also a member of the 2004 class of Leadership Genesee. German is a lifelong resident of Genesee County.

Press release:

Scott German, Genesee County treasurer, was named Finance Officer of the Year by the New York State County Treasurers and Finance Officers Association at the statewide County Finance School last week.

German has served as County Treasurer since 2004, prior to which he served as Deputy County Treasurer for 10 years. In October 2014 he was elected to be one of two NY state directors to NACCTFO ( National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers & Finance Officers).

Members of the County Treasurers and Finance Association are elected county treasurers or comptrollers and appointed county commissioners of finance and their deputies from throughout New York State.

He received the award in Syracuse, while attending County Finance School, a training and education event for county treasurers and finance officers from across New York State. The event was hosted by the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), the Office of the State Comptroller, and the NYS County Treasurers and Finance Officers Association.

“I am honored to receive this award from my colleagues across the state,” German said. “It is my privilege to serve Genesee County as treasurer, a role I take very seriously.”

County treasurers and finance officials from all areas of the state attended County Finance School, presenting a unique opportunity for attendees to share best practices and solutions.

“On behalf of NYSAC, we applaud Treasurer German’s commitment to Genesee County and its residents. Our associations thrive most when we exchange the innovative ideas and effective solutions that are being deployed in counties across the state. It is only fitting that we take the time to honor those who are putting those solutions to work for their residents,” said NYSAC President William E. Cherry.

The New York State Association of Counties is a bipartisan municipal association serving all 62 counties of New York State including the City of New York. Organized in 1925, NYSAC's mission is to represent, educate and advocate for member counties and the thousands of elected and appointed county officials who serve the public. Visit www.NYSAC.org to learn more.