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County Legislator Pat Pryor held a town meeting Monday to tell Lansing constituents about Tompkins County's early consideration of next year's budget.  16 people came to the Lansing Town Hall to learn about what influences the budget process, to ask questions, and to tell Pryor what they think about County taxes.  This was the second town hall meeting Pryor has held since winning her Legislature seat.

"One of the things that I would like to try to do during my term in office is to find as many ways as I can to stay in touch with constituents here in Lansing," she said.  "You may have some very strong feelings about issues, or just might want to know about what's going on at the County."



Pryor brought along County Administrator Joe Mareane and County Public Information Officer Marcia Lynch to help present a PowerPoint showing the influences on the county budget.  She explained that state mandates give the county little leeway on what they can spend, though some allow the County discretion on how they fulfill the mandates.  She noted the only flexibility the County has in developing a budget comes in controlling un-mandated programs. 

She also noted that Tompkins County unemployment has historically been cushioned by Cornell, but in the recent economy even Cornell has suffered layoffs.  That has both an impact on collectable taxes and on the money the County must provide for assistance.

If Tompkins County were to keep all programs at the current level taxpayers would be looking at a 10.2% rise in taxes in January.  Mareane said he is recommending a 5% rise as a goal for the Legislature.  At that level the County will be looking at $2 million in cuts.  County Department Heads have been told they must cut 6.9% for the next budget.  If the County were to keep taxes at the current level it would have to cut $3.9 million.  Mareane noted that county spending actually went down last year.

"It's in part because of personnel savings," he said.  "It's in part because the departments reduced their overall spending by 6% across the board.  Now on top of that we're asking for another almost 7% reduction in the things they can control in 2011."

Tompkins County is struggling with the same kinds of costs as other municipalities.  The county is mandated to have a health department, weights and measures department, social services, a district attorney's office, a probation department and a sheriff department, a department of assessment, county clerk, elections department, and personnel department.  Health care and retirement benefits are skyrocketing while state funding is uncertain.  Medicaid costs alone are slated to rise $0.4 million from $1.2 to $11.6 million next year.

"The property tax levy is around 38 million dollars," he said.  "Medicaid alone is almost a third of our entire property tax levy."

Mareane also noted that road patrol deputies haven't had a wage increase since early 2006, and that the result of binding arbitration will result in a big bump in that budget item, largely due to retroactive wages.

Fixed costs in the $70+ million budget account for over $20 million.  Adding an estimated $15.8 million in automatic payments such as utility bills brings the total to just under $40 million.  When you add mandates that are locally controlled the total comes to under $50 million.  Locally controlled 'discretionary' programs add $27.9 million, bringing the total above the current budget level to a total of $75.9 million.

At this early stage of developing the budget Pryor explained the County is betting on three risky influences.  They are hoping there will not be a reduction in State aid, assuming $500,000 of sales tax growth over the 2010 projection.  Third, the Legislature is hoping the State will approve their petition to raise the county mortgage tax from 0.75%  to 1%.  This is calculated to generate about a million dollars for the Tompkins County.

"It seems that an awful lot of burden is being put on property owners," said resident Kelly Kheel.  "Moreso than is really necessary.  We have a lot of things that could be cut in this county.  I see plus, plus, plus in property taxes, but no cuts."


Pryor said she chose to share the information now so residents can learn about and respond to what the County will consider as they get closer to an actual budget proposal late this year.  she said that the figures she presented are early projections.

"We have not begun yet to talk about where we're going to make cuts," she said.  "I can assure you as one legislator -- and I'm not the only legislator that feels this way  -- that one of the things we're going to have to do this year is make cuts."

But Kheel wanted her message heard in no uncertain terms.

"We are taxed enough already in Tompkins County," she said.  "We have one of the highest tax burdens in the state.  Enough.  Enough!  Ease up on private sector people.  We can't afford big government any more.  You have outgrown us.  It's unsustainable.  You are driving us out of the state."

Pryor gave out her telephone number and asked attendees to sign up to be included on an e-mail distribution list she will use to send information to constituents.  She tested the list Wednesday, and plans to send updates on legislative action and debate after County Legislature meetings.

"I'm going to have to make some really tough decisions," Pryor said.  "I want to know how you feel."

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