Archive: News

At the final session designated to propose new modifications to the tentative County budget, Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee Tuesday recommended no changes that would affect the tax levy, which still stands at an increase of 3.13 percent, just above the Legislature’s 3 percent target for 2009.  But they made three spending changes which, taken together, would decrease the County’s surplus fund balance by $75,000. 

At the end of the night, that line stood at a little more than $870,000, nearly $130,000 less than the million-dollar level County Administrator Steve Whicher has strongly recommended, to leave the County able to respond effectively to State budget reductions that are still largely undefined.

Recommendations made tonight may still be modified at future meetings and will need formal approval by the full Legislature to become final.

SOIL AND WATER RENT EXPENSE:
By a vote of 13-1, Legislators recommended $35,000 be set aside in the contingent fund for potential rent expense for the Soil and Water Conservation District.  County Administrator Steve Whicher described that amount as the “worst case scenario” for what the County might have to spend under new lease arrangements for Soil and Water, still under negotiation.  The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, which has traditionally provided office space for the district, has been directed to charge rent for the local program, but the County has proposed to move both agencies to available space at the former Cayuga Press Building on Hanshaw Road, where the County is already leasing space to house its voting machines.

WORKFORCE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAM:
Legislators, by a vote of 9-5, recommended $40,000 in two-year funding to support the County’s workforce diversity and inclusion efforts.  Legislator Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, who chairs the County’s Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Committee said funding would be critical to move forward the County’s efforts to maintain its dedicated focus and commitment to diversity and inclusion, and to attract and retain excellent talent needed to sustain a high quality organization.  Funds would underwrite project assistant support, materials, and marketing and training expenses.

PROBATION AND COMMUNITY JUSTICE:
The committee failed, by a 3-12 vote, to provide target funding to support a System Analyst position in the Probation Department, but extended the funding restored two weeks ago from one-time to a two-year term.  That measure to provide multi-year funding passed by a vote of 8-7.

Other Actions

Legislators, by a vote of 2-13, failed to restore $200,000 in one-time funding for highway materials, proposed to assist in the County’s highway repair program.  While he again reminded lawmakers that materials prices have “gone out of sight,” Division Manager Bill Sczesny projected that amount would permit his department only to resurface less than three miles of roadway.

A proposal to provide $25,000 in one-time funding in the District Attorney’s budget to support mandated obligations to investigate animal cruelty cases once again failed to win support, this time by a vote of 7-8.  A measure to provide contingent funding for that purpose failed last week by a tie vote of 7-7.

Several items were proposed, discussed, then withdrawn for expected consideration later.  Among them were a proposal to change from one-time to target funding more than $56,000 in staff expense in the Finance Department; providing target funds for a paralegal position in Human Rights; and earmarking contingency funding, if it is needed, for rental expense for the Office for the Aging.

Legislator Frank Proto also brought up the issue of funding for Alternatives to Incarceration  (ATI) programs, indicating that he has been thinking about proposing a $500,000 freeze in ATI accounts until information is presented concerning program results.

Potential Tax Impact of Recommendations to Date

Although no committee actions tonight would affect the tax levy, the committee to date has added $129,545 in target spending to County Administrator Steve Whicher’s tentative budget, which involves more than $73 million in locally controlled spending.  If committee recommendations to date become final, the County’s total 2009 tax levy would increase by 3.13 percent, and the tax rate would be $5.94 per thousand dollars assessed property value, a decrease of 13.4 percent.

Committee deliberations have adjourned until tomorrow, October 15, when Legislators will continue revisiting earlier actions.  Legislature Chair Mike Koplinka-Loehr said he expects that the next meeting after that, on Monday, October 20, will be the final one needed to prepare a proposal for Legislature consideration.

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