Scott German

Retired Genesee County Treasurer Scott German won’t be idle for long, since being elected as chairman of the county Republican Committee in October 2023, and appointed as Republican election commissioner Wednesday during the Ways & Means Committee meeting.

German was elected to the Republican Committee to fill the role after Richard Siebert opted not to seek re-election, and then was appointed to the election commissioner role due to Siebert’s impending retirement from the position, effective at the end of this year. 

“I’m honored to be elected, and I’m looking forward to getting the department compliant with the IRS regulations (for Election Day workers), as they’ve not been compliant for at least five or six years. I’m looking forward to getting that done,” he said, answering a legislator’s question about his goals. “It’s hard to know what my goals would be without actually being in the position because it’s new to me. I do know they’re excited, and I’m excited; even the Democratic side is excited. They’ll continue to run it bipartisan. You wouldn’t know if you’re a Republican or a Democrat talking to individuals when they walk in.”

During a budget session with the county Legislature after the meeting, Manager Matt Landers said that the positions of election commissioners German and Democratic Commissioner Lorie Longhany will be made county employees as of the 2025-26 budget. 

He wasn’t certain what their salaries, which will be on a per diem basis, would be, but said that since German has several years accumulated as a former treasurer, he would likely be at Step 16. 

"We have a 20-step process for management, and when we hire managers with indirect experience, but still experience, they're given a half year credit for their years of service. So Scott has got like 31 years or 33 years, so he's going to come in at like step 16," Landers said. "So I'm not sure what step Dick was at, Scott's coming at step 16, and then, because the R's and the D's have to get paid identical, Lorie actually moves up a little bit because of that, because we can't pay him more than her. That's just the way the laws and the rules are."

In the department’s annual review, “we wish longtime Commissioner Siebert all the best in his upcoming retirement from the board,” Longhany said. She, German and two deputies will review ideas and collaborations to ensure that “operations are run effectively and all staffing needs are met moving forward,” she said.

Election year 2024 has been busy, with three elections on the calendar, including the presidential primary in April, even though the presidential nominee had already won by the time the New York primary rolled around, she said, presenting the report on behalf of her and Siebert.

That produced a “lackluster” turnout of 6% of each the Democratic and Republican voters showing up to vote. The county was still obligated to conduct nine days of early voting with very low turnouts, she said.

June 25 was next with the State and local Primary, with a Republican Primary race for Congress and a local race in the town of Byron. Turnout was 12% of Republican voters.

As older, more obsolete voting machines were being phased out, the county Board of Elections purchased 19 more Dominion ICE machines and upgraded the election reporting system. New software had been very well received by staff and the IT department and ballot programming for November was completed in just one and a half days versus four to five as in past years, she said.

Perhaps no surprise, elections staff expects a “very robust” turnout this November, of probably 80% of registered voters, “as we do in every presidential year.” 

“Our office is very busy preparing for this election. We have also made safety provisions in our front-facing public office with a minor remodel, changing access points, and giving our staff a dedicated and secure entrance, and the public has their dedicated entrance,” she said. “We also have secured extra patrols around our early voting site and our Election Day poll sites through the county manager's office and the sheriff's department. While we are more confident than not that we will not need the extra security, it is prudent that we prepare for any and all scenarios.”

Looking ahead into 2025, it will be a transition year of local elections, which draw lower turnouts. That in turn makes it a “very good time to restructure operations,” the report states.

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:

Genesee County Treasurer Scott D. German announced today that he will be seeking a fourth term as County Treasurer in this November’s election.

German is in his 23rd year in the office, the last 12 of which have been as Treasurer. Among the many accomplishments of the Treasurer’s Office is the extremely successful 2010 refinancing of county debt, which saved Genesee County taxpayers more than $1,000,000 in interest expense over six years. Another highlight of German’s tenure is the successful office merger with Real Property. Merging operations with the Real Property Department has allowed for the sharing of resources, which in turn has saved county taxpayers money.

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 accounting 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 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:

Genesee County Treasurer Scott D. German announced today that he will be seeking a third term as Genesee County Treasurer in this November’s election. German is in his 19th year in the office, the last eight of which have been as treasurer.

Among the many accomplishments of the Treasurer’s Office, the one that comes to mind first is the extremely successful 2010 refinancing of county debt, which saved Genesee taxpayers over $1,000,000 in interest expense over the next six years. Another highlight of German’s tenure is the successful office merger with Real Property.  Merging operations with the Real Property Department has allowed for the sharing of resources, which in turn has saved county taxpayers money.

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 accounting 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.

In addition to German’s busy workload, he is also currently the president of the New York State County Treasurers and Finance Officers Association.

German holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a concentration in Finance from the State University of New York, College at Brockport. He is also a member of 2004 class of Leadership Genesee.  German is a lifelong resident of Genesee County.

Press release:

At the fall meeting of the New York State County Treasurers and Finance Officers Association, held in Syracuse, Genesee County Treasurer Scott D. German was elected as the association’s president.

German was unanimously chosen by his peers statewide. Members of the association are elected county treasurers or comptrollers and appointed county commissioners of finance and their deputies from throughout New York State.

German has been a member of the association since he became deputy treasurer of Genesee County in 1994. He has been treasurer of Genesee County since 2004 after the retirement of John F. Flint. German succeeds Terri L. Ross, Allegany County Treasurer, as president of the association.

Here's a news release from the Genesee County Treasurer's Office.

Genesee County Treasurer Scott D. German announced today that sales tax receipts to the county are up for the fourth straight quarter.

"Today's payment was the last to be received for the first quarter of 2011 and we are up 8.19 percent compared to the first quarter of 2010, or $639,588," German said.

For the first quarter, the county received $7.62 million. Of this, the county retains 50 percent, 16 percent goes to the city and 34 percent goes to the towns and villages. For 2011, the county budgeted $12.2 million of its 3 percent share of sales tax. The other 1 percent share is used to pay debt service and capital projects.

"During these very tough economic times, people seem to be spending money, even though, I'm sure some of the increase is due to the higher prices at the fuel pump," German said.

Press release from County Treasurer Scott German:

Genesee County Treasurer Scott D. German announced today that sales tax was up in Genesee County in 2010 compared to 2009. We are up $723,777 (before distribution) over last year, German said.

We still ended up underbudget, German said. In both 2009 and 2010, the county budgeted $12,500,000 for its share of the 3 percent of sales tax. In 2009, the county ended up short of the budgeted amount by $467,000 and we will end up about $197,000 underbudget for 2010.

For the 2011 budget, the county budgeted $12,200,000 for sales tax, a $300,000 reduction from the previous two years.

The number of retiring Genesee County workers over the next two years could increase county expenses by as much as $3 million.

That's according to figures released Wednesday by County Treasurer Scott German at the Ways and Means Committee meeting.

Afterward, he said the looming increase is troublesome.

"I’m very concerned about that because I’m not sure how we’re going to be able to come up with that kind of money without raising taxes," German said.

In other items German shared with the legislators:

• The recent tax foreclosure auction turned a slight profit for the county of $6,900.  Initially, German didn't think the auction was profitable -- the amount spent by auction winners compared to the amount of property taxes owed -- but the early figures included interest payments on the back taxes, which did not need to be included.
• The county has a fund balance of $9 million for 2009. This is up $397,022 from 2008. The fund balance is a measure of all money either collected or due the county from various sources, such as property taxes and state and federal sources. It doesn't necessarily mean the money is in the bank or that it has even been received.
• The county's bond rating was bumped two grades to AA-. German noted that a two-grade bump is very rare and is "reflective of financial policies being practiced by the County Legislature and Treasurer's Office."
• Interest earnings continue to decline. Earnings in 2009 dropped to $412,000, which is half the earnings of 2008, at $700,000. And 2008 was half of 2007, which was $1.4 million.
• Revenue from sales tax dropped in 2009, which is the first drop since 2003 and only the second drop since 1991. Sales tax revenue is expected to be flat in 2010.

County taxpayers will save more than $1 million in interest payments, thanks to an effort by County Treasurer Scott D. German to refinance four old bond issues.

German got permission from the County Legislature in January to try to refinance the bonds, and closed on all four issues -- from 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2001 -- on March 16.

The total savings turned out to be $1,113,632.50 over the next six years.

"We did better in the market place than we anticipated, we did about 10% better than expected,” German said in a press release today. "I couldn’t be happier to help provide these savings to the taxpayers.

The $10.7 million in bonds helped build the court facility, make improvements to the county building and old courthouse, build the GCC technology center and renovate the county nursing home.

From the press release:

Since we are experiencing low rates of interest in the bond market, German asked Fiscal Advisors, the county’s financial advisor, to take a look at refinancing  to see if it was worth while, “as it turned out it was a gigantic savings to the taxpayers,” German said.  “It is not often that I can save taxpayers over a million dollars, I am so glad I asked the question,” German said. “Bottom line, this is a great savings to Genesee County taxpayers."