Archive: News

Legislature Adopts 2010-2011 TC3 Budget

Following a public hearing, the Legislature, by unanimous vote adopted the 2010-2011 operating budget for Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3). The $35.4 million budget holds the sponsoring community contribution from Tompkins and Cortland Counties steady at a little over $4.2 million.  There is a slight increase for Tompkins County of about $43,000, since Tompkins’ share of the sponsor contribution has risen from  62 to 63%, based on a funding formula that relates to a three-year average of the proportion of students enrolled from each county.

College president Dr. Carl Haynes cautioned that the budget, as presented, assumes restoration of a $285 per student in base aid, as had been approved by both Senate and Assembly, but has since been vetoed by the Governor.  While the issue is not yet closed, the president characterized the situation as “challenging” and somewhat uncertain, but expressed confidence that the College can manage the outcome.  Haynes reported college enrollment is currently projected to increase by 10.3% overall, compared to the conservative 4.6% enrollment increase projected in the current budget.  The budget, as proposed, assumed two staff cuts by attrition; failure to restore base aid could result in reduction of four-and-a-half additional positions.  President Haynes expressed confidence that, if the aid reductions stand, the budget can be managed without compromising quality, with preserving direct support for the college’s “core enrollment” a top priority.

The Cortland County Legislature approved a similar budget resolution June 24.


Administrator Warns Senate Home Rule Denials Could Force Rethinking of 2011 Budget Projections

County Administrator Joe Mareane once again cautioned the Legislature that prospects appear dim for gaining State approval of the County’s request for a quarter-percent increase in the county mortgage tax, which would cost $1 million in projected revenue for the 2011 county budget.  Mareane said that, in spite of proposing significant increases in state taxes and fees, the State Senate has indicated it will draw the line on  home rule requests that will affect revenues, an action that would affect eight or nine counties, including Tompkins.

The counties have launched an intense lobbing effort to reverse this situation, Mareane said, concerned not only about the effects this year, but also for the precedent this could set.  If blanket denials of home rule requests becomes a principle, he warned, it could have “enormous impacts.”

To fill the gap in projected revenue from the mortgage tax, Mareane said the County would have to direct departments to reduce non-mandated spending by another 3% (a total across-the-board 10% cut), increase taxes by another 3% (above the Legislature’s 5% target), or some combination of the two.

The administrator also reported that, while his office is still sorting through reductions contained in the state budget, it appears core programs in the Health Department and Office for the Aging will be affected, with reimbursement cuts in Probation, and in child welfare programs in the Department of Social Services.

Finance Director David Squires also reported that State reimbursement for county social services costs are only being received “in dribs and drabs” and that, if the pattern continues, it will produce “a liquidity  emergency” before the end of summer.  Squires told legislators, “While benefits are being paid, the reimbursements are not.”

McDermott Confirmed as Assigned Counsel Supervising Attorney

The Legislature without dissent confirmed Administrator Joe Mareane’s appointment of Ithaca attorney Wesley McDermott as Supervising Attorney for the Assigned Counsel program.  Mr. McDermott has served as interim supervising attorney since January, following the death of supervising attorney Robert Stolp. McDermott’s permanent appointment to the part-time leadership position was recommended by the Advisory Board for Indigent Representation.


Legislature Awards Bid for Ellis Hollow Road Reconstruction

The Legislature awarded the construction bid for the first phase of the long-discussed reconstruction of Ellis Hollow Road in the Town of Dryden.  By unanimous vote, the Legislature awarded SuitKote of Cortland the construction contract, for its $1.6 million alternative bid, submitted June 30, to reconstruct 1.4 miles of road, from Thomas Road to west of the Genung Road intersection.  Construction is scheduled to begin before the end of this month.  Facilities and Infrastructure Chair Dooley Kiefer said the bid accepted will allow the work to include colored shoulders, which have been advocated as a traffic calming measure.  Legislature Chair Martha Robertson, within whose district the project falls, thanked staff for their conscientious work on what has been a much-debated project.


Among other actions, the Legislature

• Approved a procedural resolution establishing the standard work day for elected and appointed officials to comply with a new State regulation  passed last year establishing new reporting requirements for elected or appointed officials who are members of the New York State Retirement System.  The work day calculation—for nearly all 20 days per month—are based on a three-month record of activities, taken once-a-term by those officials who do not maintain a daily record of actual time worked.
• Awarded WeCare Transportation, LLC of Jordan,  New York, a three-year contract for leachate transportation from the closed Hillview and Caswell landfills to the Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Plant, for a price of $49.00 per thousand gallons.  The contract carries two one-year renewal options.

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