OXFORD – A New York State Division of Veteran’s Affairs representative, addressing the Chenango County Board of Supervisors last month, said the state’s staffing levels are “down to the bone.”

Hours at the Veteran’s Affairs Office in Oxford were recently scaled back from three to one day a week. The change prompted a protest from county lawmakers that ultimately led to the state representative’s appearance before the board.

“Staffing is the best that we can do,” said Deputy Director Ed Simmons.

The representative said the county’s population of veterans is declining every year, and the approximately 4,620 of them can easily travel to veteran’s offices in either Sidney or Binghamton for services.