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Citizens had a chance Monday to learn about the proposed 2009 Tompkins County Budget and to voice their opinions to county legislators.  Nearly 30 people attended the forum, held at the Tompkins County Public Library, among them representatives of County departments and agencies.  Ten citizens addressed legislators, nearly all of them asking legislators to preserve funding for valuable services - including those provided by the Tompkins County Public Library, county mental health services and youth programs. 

One young woman, Samantha Liddick, speaking through her sign language interpreter, told legislators of the tremendous positive impact that the Youth Employment Service “Learn to Earn” program has had on her life, and Diane Bradac, of Workforce Development’s One Stop Resource Center, conveyed messages from employees and customers on the many reasons why the Workforce Investment Board and the One Stop Center, which could lose funding if the tentative budget passes without change, should continue its unique services to individuals, employers and the community.  The county library was praised as “a lifeline” for a young mother; something that has “saved (the) sanity” of a widowed retiree; and as “a great resource” which must be open seven days a week.

While commending the County for making “good strides” in developing the proposed 2009 budget, former Dryden legislator Mike Lane warned legislators that, with the economic troubles on Wall Street and their effect on the State, 2010 will be a very tough year, and the County must prepare for it.  He said the County must address the issue of a growing payroll, through impending retirements and attrition, contract negotiations and evaluating the number of employees.  As in the past, he again urged the County to eliminate the sales tax on clothing and shoes, as have neighboring counties, to help its citizens in this time of rising costs.  And he urged support for rural libraries, including county funding for the newly chartered Lansing library.

The more than $73 million budget, prepared by County Administrator Steve Whicher meets the Legislature’s goal of a tax levy increase of no more than 3 percent.  With some adjustments in revenue that have taken place since the budget was prepared, the levy increase currently stands at just over 2.5 percent, meaning that legislators could add about $150,000 in spending and still meet the 3 percent goal.  The tax levy represents the total amount of property tax revenue that the County needs to collect to balance the budget. 

Legislators meeting as an Expanded Budget Committee will hear a final round of department presentations on Tuesday, September 23, then will begin recommending modifications to the administrator’s budget beginning next Monday and continuing through October. 

Citizens submit their budget comments online at the County’s web site at www.tompkins-co.org.

County legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee reviewed the final round of department and agency budget requests, as they concluded the presentation stage of the County’s 2009 budget process.  Next Monday, the committee begins voting on modifications to the more than $73 million tentative budget Administrator Steve Whicher delivered to the Legislature more than three weeks ago.

The committee saved till last budget review for some of the County’s largest departments.  Among the requests reviewed tonight were those from the Department of Public Works (with its Highway, Facilities, and Solid Waste Management Divisions, and Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport) and the Department of Social Services.  Also reviewed were requests from Youth Services, the Office for the Aging, Assessment and Information Technology Services, the Human Services Coalition and the agency Opportunities, Alternatives and Resources (formerly known as Offender Aid and Restoration.)

Planning and Public Works Commissioner Ed Marx warned legislators that Highway and Facilities Divisions both face “real challenges” as they prepare for the 2009 budget, with Highway experiencing “rapid escalation in prices for almost everything they use to do their job.”  He expects that about a third of highway projects will have to be deferred, which could force extension of the County’s 20 year capital plan.  Although the Highway Division had requested a $150,000 target increase to reflect the increased cost of salt and related fuel surcharges, highway manager Bill Sczesny said the division could live with the administrator’s recommendation for a $100,000 increase for materials coupled with a target reduction of $130,000.  Highway will opt for a salt-sand mixture in most locations this winter because of cost constraints and will no longer be plowing state roads under contract with the State.  On the issue of highway maintenance, commissioner Marx cautioned that the County has a legal responsibility to maintain highways at a safe level, and putting off maintenance expenses now could lead to spending many times that amount in the future.

Deferred maintenance for County buildings is an issue again for 2009. The Facilities Division had requested $300,000 in target funds to address the maintenance backlog, but because of fiscal constraints $100,000 in one-time funding is recommended to supplement an annual $50,000 target increase for this purpose.  Facilities Director Arel LeMaro cautioned that actual need is much higher than the amount he had requested.

Although only about half of the department’s more than $288,000 in over target requests were included, Social Services Commissioner Patricia Carey said her department can accept what the county administrator recommends.  Funding requests for preventive services agencies, overtime pay for Child Protective Services investigators, project assistants, and vehicle replacement were among those modified in the tentative budget.  The department also has returned about half-a-million dollars in prior year rollover funding to the general fund, that amount coming from underestimated revenue for Medicaid administration.

Youth Services Director Nancy Zahler asked legislators to consider target funding ($22,400) to support a second staff position for anger management and crisis services through the Bridges Runaway  program, funded on a one time basis for 2008, and another $6,700 to partially support for the Youth Employment Service Learn to Earn program.

Though not reflected in the recommended 2009 budget, Office for Aging Director Lisa Holmes reported that the latest round of State budget cuts will produce a more than $30,000 shortfall for her agency in 2008, which will continue in 2009.  These reductions will support for Foodnet Meals on Wheels, in-home supportive services program for low-income, frail elders, other subcontract services, and other office services.  Human Services Coalition Director Kathy Schlather also asked legislators to keep in mind the impact of ongoing state aid reductions for human services agencies, with many agencies experiencing both direct cuts from the state and indirect cuts through their contracts with County departments.  Things will continue to be tough for the agencies, she warned.
The tentative budget meets the Legislature’s 2009 budget target of a no more than 3 percent increase in the tax levy.  (The tax levy is the total amount of property tax revenue needed to balance the budget.)  Citizens are invited to communicate their budget comments through the County’s web site at www.tompkins-co.org (click on “County Budget.”)

The Expanded Budget Committee resumes its work September 29. 

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