Sarah Trafton reports in Columbia-Greene Media that construction began last week on Greene County's most expensive building project, a new jail off Route 9W near the Coxsackie Correctional Facility. More than $70 million in taxpayer money is leaving the county, paying companies such as Bellamy Construction Co. of Scotia, who began laying the groundwork for other contractors. The current county jail in Catskill was closed in April, 2018 due to structural concerns. Last October Greene County Legislator William Lawrence (R-Cairo), chairman of the Public Safety Committee said, on average, Greene County residents can expect a 6.73 percent tax increase next year because of the construction. The tax increases are very similar across the county with Windham residents facing the lowest increase, 6.48 percent, and Ashland getting the largest increase, at 6.91 percent. “I continue to believe this is going to be the biggest waste of county resources in the history of Greene County or ever in [the] future,” Former legislator Lori Torgersen of Windham said. “Those of us who thought of alternatives are on the right the side of history.” Currently Greene County is sharing jail services with Albany and Columbia counties. Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden said, “Construction is expected to take 18 to 24 months, depending on the weather." Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.