Management & Budget Commissioner Appointed, New Budget Director Named

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Anna-Marie Novello

Monticello, NY - Sullivan County Manager Joshua Potosek is pleased to announce his appointment of Anna-Marie Novello as the new Commissioner of the Division of Management & Budget, unanimously confirmed by the Legislature this past Thursday.

"Anna has served the residents and taxpayers of Sullivan County for 10 years, steadily adding to her responsibilities and reputation over that decade," Potosek related. "Her eye for detail and her problem-solving capabilities make her perfect for this new role, and she'll work closely with me to prepare budgets and oversee the finances of all of County government."

"I'm grateful the County Manager and the Legislature have placed such trust and confidence in me, and I hope to further that in the years to come, starting with our 2025 Budget development," Novello stated. "I am fortunate to work with a great team all around, and I can promise taxpayers we will handle their monies responsibly and transparently."

In addition, Lucrezia Anderson, former Town of Wallkill Comptroller and Senior Accountant in various Sullivan County government offices, has been named Budget Director, replacing the now-retired Janet Young.

"Lu has been an integral part of our operations for a cumulative 14 years, and I look forward to integrating her common-sense approach into our financial oversight and budget preparations," Potosek remarked.

"Continuing my career in Sullivan County government has been rewarding and fulfilling, and I'm delighted to be part of a group of people dedicated to using public funds wisely and accountably," said Anderson. "I'm thankful to County Treasurer Nancy Buck, with whom I started, and to the County Manager and my coworkers for the opportunity to learn as much as I have."

About Anna-Marie Novello

Novello has spent a significant portion of her career with County government, where she has served as an Account Clerk, Financial/Budget Analyst and, most recently, the Office of Management & Budget's Senior Budget Analyst. In that role, she has overseen the payroll of 1,000 Sullivan County employees, analyzed and forecasted financial trends and concerns, ensured budget compliance, and maintained the timekeeping system. The work has touched on every department and office in the County.

"I love my job - I really do," she affirmed. "I find it challenging and fulfilling to use my skills to improve processes and systems throughout the County."

Novello grew up on Long Island and graduated from William Floyd High School, finding her way to Sullivan County while taking care of a friend's horses.

"I met Heather Brown, long before she became the Planning Commissioner, and she told me County government was a great place to work, so I took the Civil Service test and got the call," she recalled, adding that the two remain friends and plan to enjoy a mutual interest this fall: skydiving.

She currently lives in Monticello with her two daughters: Krista, a nursing student, and Hannah, a brand new high school grad. She also shares her home with her cat, Tut, and her rabbit, Whiskers.

Novello holds a Master of Science in Accountancy from the University of Phoenix and is a member of the NYS Government Finance Officers Association. As Sullivan County's Management & Budget Commissioner, she'll be overseeing 19 people - many of whom she's routinely worked with already.

"I love teaching people," she noted, "and I truly do feel part of a team that's making a difference."

About Lucrezia Anderson

Anderson grew up in Newburgh and graduated from Valley Central High School but now lives in Bloomingburg with her husband of 15 years, Peter, and their children: Antonio, 12, and Peter III, 8.

"We wanted to start a family near where I grew up," she acknowledged. "It was important to raise our kids close to family."

Possessing a Master's of Business Administration from the University of South Florida, Anderson first worked as an accountant at a payroll and HR consulting company in St. Petersburg, Florida.

"I was dead-set on not being an accountant - which is what I became!" she explained with a laugh. "I found out I just like numbers."

Anderson joined Sullivan County government in 2010 as a Senior Accountant in the Treasurer's Office, working under then-County Treasurer Ira Cohen and then-Deputy Nancy Buck. After a stint as the Town of Wallkill's chief fiscal officer, she returned to Sullivan County as a Senior Accountant in the Budget Office. She has been crucial in keeping track of the Legislature's Discretionary Grants Program and the various Local Development Corporations, training fiscal staff, analyzing the County's financial policies and processes, and submitting the necessary data to receive Federal and State reimbursements that offset taxpayers' costs.