Call to Order

 Mr. Penniman called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. (14 members present).

It was MOVED by Mr. Winch, seconded by Mr. Proto, to approve the recommendations of the Health and Human Services Committee.

SPCA

 It was MOVED by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, to delete funding for the SPCA in the amount of $32,136.

 It was MOVED by Mr. Winch, seconded by Mr. Proto, to amend the amendment by reducing that amount by ten percent ($3,214).  A vote by show of hands on the motion resulted as follows:  Ayes – 11, Noes – 3 (Joseph, Koplinka-Loehr, and Todd).  MOTION CARRIED.

 A vote by show of hands on the original motion as amended resulted as follows:  Ayes – 13, Noes- 1 (Kiefer).  MOTION CARRIED.

Tompkins Community Action

 It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Mr. Proto, to decrease Over Target Request No. 81 – Maintain Services, in the amount of $19,443, by ten percent ($1,944).  A vote by show of hands resulted as follows:  Ayes – 14, Noes – 0.  MOTION CARRIED.

 It was MOVED by Mr. Todd, seconded by Mr. Winch, to change the remainder of Tompkins Community Action’s Over Target Request to one-time funding.  A vote by show of hands resulted as follows:  Ayes – 7 (Booth, Koplinka-Loehr, McBean, Proto, Todd, Totman, and Winch); Noes – 7 (Herrera, Joseph, Lane, Kiefer, Penniman, Schuler, Robertson).  MOTION FAILED.

Office for the Aging

 No action taken.

Basic Subsistence

 It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Mr. Totman, to request the Human Services Coalition to return to the Human Services Coalition Review Committee and the directors of agencies for the purpose of producing a recommendation on cuts that would accomplish an additional reduction of $61,000 in County funds.  It was requested that this information be provided by this Committee’s second revisit meeting.  It was noted this recommendation shall exclude the Community Dispute Resolution Center and Offender Aid Restoration.

 It was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mr. Totman, to call the Question.  A vote by show of hands resulted as follows:  Ayes – 11, Noes – 3 (Kiefer, Robertson, and Schuler).  MOTION CARRIED.

 A vote by show of hands on the original motion resulted as follows:  8 (Booth, Herrera, Koplinka-Loehr, Lane, Penniman, Todd, Totman, and Winch); Noes – 6 (Joseph, Kiefer, McBean, Proto, Schuler, and Robertson).  MOTION CARRIED.

Community Dispute Resolution Center

 It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Mr. Booth, to delete Over Target Request No. 72 – Maintain Services Community Dispute Resolution Center, in the amount of $3,043.   Ms. Robertson disclosed her relationship as a consultant with this agency and requested permission to abstain. Mr. Penniman granted Ms. Robertson permission to abstain from voting.

 It was MOVED by Mr. Proto, seconded by Ms. Herrera, to amend the motion, to amend the amendment and reduce the funding by a total of $1,000.    A vote by show of hands on the amendment to the amendment resulted as follows:  Ayes – 4 (Herrera, Joseph, Proto, and Winch); Noes - 9; Abstentions - 1 (Robertson).  MOTION FAILED.

A vote by show of hands on the original motion resulted as follows:  Ayes – 10 (Booth, Lane, Koplinka-Loehr, McBean, Penniman, Proto, Schuler, Todd, Totman, and Winch); Noes – 3 (Herrera, Joseph, Kiefer); Abstentions - 1 (Robertson).  MOTION CARRIED.

OFFENDER AID RESTORATION

 It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Mr. Totman, to reduce Over Target Request Nos. 73 – Basic Subsistence – OAR Core Services ($14,403) and Over Target Request No. 75 – Basic Subsistence – OAR Core Services – Communications Upgrade ($6,400), to zero.

 It was MOVED by Mr. Lane, seconded by Mr. Totman, to amend the amendment, eliminating Over Target Request Nos. 73 and 75 which are target increases, and to reduce the base budget by an additional $9,197.  A vote by show of hands resulted as follows:  Ayes – 5 (Booth, Lane, Proto, Todd, and Totman), Noes – 9 (Herrera, Joseph, Kiefer, Koplinka-Loehr, McBean, Penniman, Robertson, Schuler, and Winch). MOTION FAILED.

It was MOVED by Ms. Herrera, seconded by Ms. Robertson, to amend the amendment by reducing Over Target Request No. 73 ($14,403) to zero.  A vote by show of hands resulted on the amendment to the amendment as follows:  Ayes – 6 (Herrera, Joseph, Kiefer, Robertson, Schuler, and Totman); Noes – 8 (Booth, Koplinka-Loehr, Lane, McBean, Penniman, Proto, Todd, and Winch.  MOTION FAILED.

 A vote on the original motion resulted as follows:  Ayes - 9 (Booth, Koplinka-Loehr, Lane, McBean, Penniman, Proto, Todd, Totman, and Winch); Noes – 5 (Herrera, Joseph, Kiefer, Robertson, and Schuler).  MOTION CARRIED.

Recess

 Mr. Penniman declared recess from 6:51 p.m. to 7:08 p.m.

 Mr. Proto was temporarily out of the room.  (13 members present)

 It was MOVED by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Lane, to table the motion on the floor to approve the recommendations of the Human Services Committee.  A vote by show of by show of hands resulted as follows:  Ayes – 11, Noes – 2 (Todd and Totman); Temporarily Out of the Room – 1 (Proto).  MOTION CARRIED.

Human Rights Commission

 It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, to accept the budget of the Human Rights Commission as recommended by the Government Operations Committee.

 Mr. Proto returned to the room.  (14 members present).

 It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, to amend the motion, restoring Over Target Request No. 167 - Maintain Effort, Salary and Fringe/Sr. Paralegal ($32,451) to the Commission’s budget as originally requested.  A vote by show of hands resulted as follows:  Ayes – 8 (Herrera, Joseph, Kiefer, Koplinka-Loehr, McBean, Penniman, Robertson, and Schuler); Noes – 6 (Booth, Lane, Proto, Todd, Totman, and Winch).  MOTION CARRIED.

 It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Mr. Booth, and unanimously adopted by a vote by show of hands, to return 2001 Certified Rollover funds in the amount of $8,945 to the General Fund.

It was MOVED by Mr. Jospeh, seconded by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, to restore Over Target Request No. 168 – Maintain Effort – Salary and Fringe – Sr. Paralegal, in the amount of $8,762.  A roll call vote resulted as follows:  Ayes – 7 (Herrera, Joseph, Kiefer, Koplinka-Loehr, McBean, Robertson, and Schuler); Noes – 7 (Booth, Lane, Penniman, Proto, Todd, Totman, and Winch).  MOTION FAILED.

A vote on the Human Rights Commission budget as amended resulted as follows:  Ayes – 9 (Herrera, Joseph, Kiefer, Koplinka-Loehr, Lane, McBean, Penniman, Robertson, and Schuler); Noes – 5 (Booth, Proto, Todd, Totman, and Winch).  MOTION CARRIED.

MOTION TO REVISIT OVER TARGET REQUEST NO. 140 – PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

Mr. Koplinka-Loehr made a motion to revisit Over Target Request No. 140 - Facilities - Salaries and Fringes.  Some members felt this motion was out of order; the Chair ruled is was allowable.  It was MOVED by Mr. Winch, seconded by Mr. Proto, to challenge the ruling of the Chair.  A vote by a show of hands on sustaining the ruling of the chair resulted as follows:  Ayes - 6 (Booth, Herrera, Koplinka-Loehr, Lane, McBean, and Penniman); Noes - 8 (Joseph, Kiefer, Proto, Robertson, Schuler, Todd, Totman, and Winch).  MOTION FAILED.

Report from County Administrator

 Mr. Whicher reported on the request to look at the use of certified and anticipated Rollover with a recommendation on reducing the funds to be rolled forward to subsequent years by $625,000.  Mr. Whicher presented the Board with a spreadsheet outlining his recommendation to return this amount of the General Fund, as well as the departments' responses to this request; Mr. Whicher made it clear he is not recommending doing this.   It was agreed that Board members will review this information and comment at a later date.

 Mr. Koplinka-Loehr requested Commissioner Dolan to prepare scenarios and implications for budget reductions for the Department of Social Services in $50,000 increments up to $200,000 for Over Target Request Nos. 32 thru 42, for the next budget meeting.

 Mr. Whicher noted that Board members received a letter from Lee Shurtleff, Director of Emergency Response, in regard to the 2003 Capital Project Needs Communications System Upgrade.

RESOLUTION NO.        - CALLING FOR THE GOVERNOR AND STATE LEGISLATURE TO CAP COUNTIES’ SHARE OF MEDICAID NOW!

 MOVED by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mrs. Schuler, and unanimously adopted by voice vote.

 WHEREAS, since the enactment of the Medicaid program, counties in New York State have been required to share in the costs of service;  Counties are mandated by the state to contribute a twenty-five percent matching share with the exception of certain long-term care and mental health services, and
 WHEREAS, counties have minimal authority to manage, control or reduce their Medicaid costs, and therefore serve primarily as a means to transfer a portion of the State’s share of Medicaid from the statewide tax base to local property tax bases, and
 WHEREAS, in 2001 local taxpayers paid over $4.3 billion in net Medicaid costs through their local budgets and it is estimated that the net Medicaid local share will increase to $4.8 billion in 2002, and exceed $5.4 billion in 2003, and
 WHEREAS, for counties outside New York City, the Medicaid local share has doubled between 1990 – 2001, making Medicaid the largest and most volatile single expense in county budgets, and
 WHEREAS, recent actions by the State, including shifting of Medicaid managed care costs to counties, the shifting of mental health costs to counties, the expansion of various Medicaid payment rates, the creation of the Family Health Plus Program and expanded funding for healthcare worker recruitment and retention, has compounded the local Medicaid problem and added to the fiscal crisis currently facing counties, and
 WHEREAS, the resurgence of Medicaid growth reflects the underlying problems and funding inequities of the Medicaid program which place unique burdens on counties, jeopardize the long-term fiscal stability of county governments, and add to the burden of regressive local property taxes, and
 WHEREAS, it is imperative that the Governor and State Legislature take responsibility for the growth of New York State’s program by capping the Medicaid local share at 2001 base levels, and
 WHEREAS, this cap would provide local governments significant budgetary relief, and
 WHEREAS, this cap would provide county taxpayers with real property tax relief in 2003, now therefore be it
 RESOLVED, That the Tompkins County Board of Representatives calls upon the Governor and the State Legislature to make fundamental structural reform to the Medicaid program and provide real property taxpayers with relief by CAPPING COUNTIES’ SHARE OF MEDICAID NOW at the 2001 base level,
 RESOLVED, further, That the Tompkins County Board of Representatives shall forward copies of this resolution to Governor George E. Pataki, the New York State Legislature, and all others deemed necessary and proper.
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20

RESOLUTION NO.     - CALLING ON THE PRESIDENT AND THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT AN INCREASE IN THE FEDERAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PERCENTAGE (FMAP) TO PROVIDE NEW YORK COUNTIES WITH MEDICAID RELIEF

 MOVED by Mr. Joseph, seconded by Mr. Proto, and unanimously adopted by voice vote.

 WHEREAS, under Federal Law, local governments are not responsible for any portion of Medicaid funding, however, Congress has given states the ability to require local governments to share in financing the non-federal share of Medicaid costs, and
 WHEREAS, Medicaid has become the largest single appropriation in every county budget and with the reemergence of double-digit annual growth rates it is siphoning away the limited resources needed to fund other critical budgetary needs at the county level, and
 WHEREAS, the National Governor’s Association (NGA), including Governor Pataki, have supported a proposal for a temporary increase in the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) as an economic stimulus option that would provide more federal funding for state Medicaid programs, and

 WHEREAS, NGA has indicated that it would both help to stimulate the nation’s economy and shore up the safety net for low-income families, and
 WHEREAS, on January 16, 2002, the Governor and New York State Legislature enacted legislation that provides for a multi-billion, three-year plan to address New York’s shortage of health care workers, to financially strengthen New York’s hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities and increase funding for other important health care programs, and
 WHEREAS, this new plan will increase the local Medicaid burden, currently over $4.3 billion annually, by approximately $300 million over the next three years from increased reimbursement to hospitals, nursing homes, and home care facilities, and
 WHEREAS, this legislation also integrates the funding from an increase in the FMAP of three percent for the next three state fiscal years and relies on this increased federal funding as a major offset to the new local costs, and
 WHEREAS, without the increased FMAP, property taxpayers across the state that fund county budgets, will be forced to absorb the resulting increased Medicaid burden in their local tax bill, and
 WHEREAS, the United States Senate has supported a temporary FMAP increase via the Rockefeller-Collins-Nelson-Smith amendment to the Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act of 2001, which would provide counties and New York City with one time Medicaid relief of approximately $100 million and $200 million, respectively, now therefore be it
 RESOLVED, That the Tompkins County Board of Representatives calls upon the President and the United States House of Representatives to support an increase in the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) to provide New York’s local taxpayers with relief from the crushing financial burden of the Medicaid program,
 RESOLVED, further, That the Tompkins County Board of Representatives shall forward copies of this Resolution to the President, members of the United States House of Representatives and all others deemed necessary and proper.
SEQR ACTION:  TYPE II-20

Adjournment

 On motion the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.