Budget and Capital Committee
November 13, 2006
3 p.m.
Scott Heyman Conference Room
Present: M. Koplinka-Loehr, R. Booth, P.
Mackesey, M.Sigler, N. Shinagawa (arrived at 3:10 p.m.)
Staff: B. Grinnell-Crosby, Health Department; D. Squires,
Finance; M. Lynch, P. Younger, County Administration; M. Pottorff, Legislature
Office
Mr.
Koplinka-Loehr called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m.
It
was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Ms. Mackesey, and unanimously adopted by
voice vote by members present, to approve the minutes of the meetings of
October 10, 12, and 16, 2006 as submitted. MINUTES APPROVED.
Mr. Koplinka-Loehr thanked the Committee for its good
work in leading the budget process as a team.
Mr. Squires reported that as of today the Finance
Department has upgraded its financial software to the next version of the
program that was already in use.
The new software operates in a windows-based environment and provides
much more functionality. He said
previously it was very cumbersome to retrieve information from the system.
Mr. Shinagawa arrived at 3:10 p.m.
Mr. Squires reported on a TCAT financing
situation. He stated TCAT took
delivery of four busses in August totaling $1.2 million through a grant program
which requires payment to be made prior to reimbursement. TCAT liquidity has always been
marginal in the sense of having enough liquidity to come up with the money to
pay for capital items of any magnitude.
They have been attempting to get bank financing for these buses but have
not been successful; the banks have been reluctant because they want TCAT’s
backers to guarantee the loan and the County can’t do that. He said the County is not permitted to
provide credit to a private entity.
Mr. Booth said this is another reason why TCAT should not be a private
entity. Mr. Squires
said Cornell is considering advancing some of their income to TCAT for the
purchase of one bus, Chemung Canal has said it could possibly finance one of
the busses, and suggested the County provide funding for two. He said the downside of the
County providing this funding is that it may impair the County’s financial
liquidity at the most volatile time of the year. He said the money coming from NYS Budget compromises
the County’s cash flow position.
It was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mr. Sigler, to
direct Mr. Squires to bring a resolution if necessary, to the Legislature that
will permit an extension of financing authorization to TCAT that will allow
financing of the second bus, pending reimbursement from the State. A voice vote resulted as follows: Ayes – 4, Noes – 1
(Koplinka-Loehr). MOTION CARRIED.
Mr.
Squires updated the Committee on the Contingent Fund balance and stated he
anticipates the Fund will be depleted at the end of the year. Although the balance is currently
$245,000, he expects this to be used to cover Jail Boardout costs. Another major item that hasn’t been
formally addressed in the 2006 budget, is the retroactive salary adjustments
for the Sheriff’s Department. He
reminded Legislators that while the budget is one calendar year, many
transactions that happen at the end of the year and the budget for the
subsequent year will have dramatic impacts. He said the County has ended many years with a stable
fund balance; however, he predicts that pattern will end in 2006 because he doesn’t
see revenues coming in to offset transactions.
Mr. Booth asked what areas of the budget Mr. Squires
feels is alarming. He mentioned
the following:
Outside community colleges;
Education of Preschool Handicapped Children;
DSS Juvenile delinquency care billings;
Assigned Counsel; and
Children with Special Needs
Ms. Younger, Deputy County Administrator, had no
report.
Ms. Lynch reported the public hearing on the 2007
Tompkins County Budget will take place tomorrow evening. The Committee felt that a summary
document would be useful at the public hearing; Mr. Koplinka-Loehr will talk
about this with Ms. Lynch following the meeting.
RESOLUTION
NO. - APPROPRIATION FROM CONTINGENT FUND –
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAM – HEALTH DEPARTMENT
It
was MOVED by Mr. Sigler, seconded by Ms. Mackesey, and unanimously adopted by
voice vote, to approve the following resolution and submit to the
Legislature. Ms. Grinnell-Crosby
said there are no funds within the Department’s budget that could be
transferred to cover this expense.
WHEREAS, the Health
Department will not receive Article 6 Public Health State Aid for the
Occupational Health and Safety Program beginning in 2006, and
WHEREAS,
the Department requests a Contingent Fund appropriation to cover the loss of
State Aid not to exceed $16,158, now therefore be it
RESOLVED,
on recommendation of the Health and Human Services and Budget and Capital
Committees, That the Director of Finance is hereby authorized and directed to
make the following budget appropriation:
FROM: A1990.54440 Contingent
Fund $16,158
TO: A4013.43401 State
Aid
($16,158)
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
* * * * * * * * * *
EXPLANATION:
Note: The following activities are
duties of the Health and Safety Coordinator:
1
Fit testing for
applicable employees to wear appropriate respirators
2
Hearing testing for
County employees and certain municipalities
3
Hearing Test Training
4
Bloodborne Pathogen
Training (Facilities/Highway)
5
First Aid/CPR Training
Coordination (Highway)
6
Right to Know training
for all County employees
7
New Employee safety
training
8
Ergonomic assessments
9
Indoor air quality
assessments
10
Obtaining and
maintaining MSDS (Annual Inventories)
11
Departmental safety
inspections
12
RTK Annual Exposure
records (Major Task)
13
DOSH Injury and Illness
Log and Summary
14
Annual Workplace
Violence Training (Effective 2007)
15
Confined Space Entry
Training (Public Works)
16
Supervise Confined Space
Reclassifications (Public Works)
17
Asbestos Awareness
Training (Facilities)
18
Annual Respirator
Training
19
Exposure Records such as
IAQ Assessments
20
Review and update all
safety policies
21
Defensive Driving
22
Annual medical records
and exposure records information
This
position saves the County money by monitoring and reducing OSHA recordable
injuries and illnesses. A back
injury costs approximately $40,000 in lost work time and medical treatment. A carpal tunnel injury costs
approximately $30,000. Prior to
1993 the County was fined for safety issues. The County has not been fined since this position was
created in July 1993.
______________________
RESOLUTION NO. – APPROPRIATION FROM
CONTINGENT FUND – TERMINAL PAY – DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION AND COMMUNITY JUSTICE
It
was MOVED by Mr. Shinagawa, seconded by Ms. Mackesey, and unanimously adopted
by voice vote, to approve the following resolution and submit to the
Legislature.
WHEREAS,
the Department of Probation and Community Justice had a Work Project Supervisor
(Les Goehner) and a Senior Probation Officer (Susan Jones) retire effective
February 1, 2006, and August 31, 2006, respectively, and
WHEREAS, the Fiscal Policy of Tompkins County allows
for terminal pay from the Contingent Fund, now therefore be it
RESOLVED,
on recommendation of the Public Safety and Budget and Capital Committees, That
the Director of Finance is hereby authorized and directed to make the following
budget appropriation:
FROM:
A1990.54440 Contingent
Fund $6,758
TO: A3141.51000632 Work
Project Supervisor
$1,850
A3141.51000597 Sr.
Probation Officer $ 156
A3160.51000597 Sr.
Probation Officer $ 468
A3141.58800 Fringes $1,612
A3160.58800 Fringes $2,672
SEQR
ACTION: TYPE II-20
EXECUTING AND DELIVERY OF WARRANTS
It
was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Ms. Mackesey, and unanimously adopted by
voice vote, to approve the following resolution and submit to the Legislature.
WHEREAS,
it is necessary annually to provide for property tax collection in Tompkins
County to meet expenses and the cost of county governments in Tompkins County,
and to direct that upon the tax rolls of the several towns and City, the
several taxes will be extended, now therefore be it
RESOLVED,
on recommendation of the Budget and Capital Committee, That the tax rolls be
approved as completed and that there shall be extended and carried out upon the
roll the amount to be levied against each parcel of real property shown
thereon,
RESOLVED,
further, That there be annexed to each of said rolls a tax warrant prepared by
the Director of Assessment as provided for in Section 4.00(b) of the Tompkins
County Charter, that such warrants shall be the respective amounts theretofore
authorized to be levied upon each of said rolls, that the several warrants be
signed by the Chair and the Clerk of the Legislature under seal of the
Legislature and by the Director of Assessment, and that said rolls with said
warrants annexed are to be forthwith delivered to the respective collectors of
the several districts of the County.
SEQR ACTION: TYPE
II-20
* * * * * * * * * *
RESOLUTION NO. -
REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO EXTEND THE
ADDITIONAL ONE
PERCENT LOCAL SALES TAX RATE IN
TOMPKINS COUNTY
It
was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Ms. Mackesey, and unanimously adopted by
voice vote, to approve the following resolution and submit to the Legislature.
WHEREAS, this Legislature in 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996,
1998, 2001, 2003, and 2005 requested and received authorization from the State
of New York to enact an additional one percent local sales tax in Tompkins
County in addition to the three percent authorization that all New York State
counties possess by law, and
WHEREAS,
the current authorization received in 2005 expires November 30, 2007, and
WHEREAS,
this Legislature has been requested by the offices of Assemblyperson Lifton and
Senator Seward to forward any request for an extension of this authority when
legislation can be timely prepared and submitted at the beginning of a session
of the legislature, and
WHEREAS,
the expiration of the additional one percent local sales tax would necessitate,
1) $9,200,000 in reductions in County expenditures, creating a major impact on
the availability of services, or a 27 percent increase in County property tax
rates, or some combination thereof, as well as 2) substantial spending
reductions or tax increases for the City, towns, and villages of Tompkins
County, now therefore be it
RESOLVED,
on recommendation of the Budget and Capital Committee, That this Legislature
requests that Assemblyperson Lifton, Senator Seward, Senator Nozzolio, and
Senator Winner sponsor and support legislation extending the authority of the
Tompkins County Legislature to extend the additional one percent local sales
tax in Tompkins County beyond November 30, 2007, based on the same terms and
conditions included in previous legislation, to provide local property tax
relief.
SEQR ACTION: TYPE
II-20
* * * * * * * * * * *
RESOLUTION NO. – AUTHORIZATION TO PAY
INTEREST ARBITRATION COSTS FROM THE CONTINGENT FUND
It was MOVED by Ms. Mackesey,
seconded by Mr. Booth, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to approve the
following resolution and submit to the Legislature. Mr. Booth said he is not in favor of public employees having
mandatory interest arbitration.
WHEREAS,
the Employees Union of the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department has been
working without a contract since March 1, 2004, and
WHEREAS, the Employees Union of the Tompkins County
Sheriff’s Department has, by Section 209.4 of the Civil Service Law, been given
the right to Compulsory Interest Arbitration, and
WHEREAS, Compulsory Interest Arbitration has never
before been exercised in Tompkins County and the amount of these interest
arbitration expenses could not have been anticipated or budgeted in advance,
and
WHEREAS, no funds have been budgeted or allocated for
these or future interest arbitration costs, and
WHEREAS, the Personnel Department has paid previous
negotiation and interest arbitration costs from its own rollover funds and
these funds are now depleted, and
WHEREAS, additional funds are necessary to pay these
expenses, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Personnel and the
Budget and Capital Committees, That consultant fees in the final amount of
$1,228.25 associated with Compulsory Interest Arbitration be paid from the
Contingent Fund,
RESOLVED, further, That the Director of Finance is
hereby authorized and directed to make the payments from the contingent fund:
FROM: A1990.54440 Contingent
Fund $1,228.25
TO:
A1430.54400 Program
Expense $1,228.25
SEQR
ACTION: TYPE II-20
* * * * * * * * * *
Discussion – Budget
Strategies
At
this time the Committee discussed the responses received to date to Mr.
Koplinka-Loehr’s November 6 memorandum to Legislators regarding potential
budget strategies.
(The comments in parenthesis were made during the meeting and were not
contained in the official memo)
Reorganization/Contract
Out:
1. Consolidate Administration and Office of the
Legislature (may require Charter change)
2. Contract out some Personnel Functions – non Civil
Service responsibilities (e.g. payroll, benefits)
3. Return Assessment to Municipalities (many felt this is
a bad idea)
4. Use Assigned Counsel only for Felonies and Conflict
Cases (more information needed)
Misdemeanor
and Family Court cases handled by one or more 501c3’s, or Public Defender
Office Note: Steve has asked Shawn Martél-Moore to begin a review of this
proposal
5. Eliminate Road Patrol – negotiate takeover by State
Police
6. Consolidate all Law Enforcement Offices and
Departments in the county into a single entity (e.g. combining
City/County/Cayuga Heights or any municipality having police force)
7. Reduce Jail Staffing to level prior to Commission
Staffing Review (State Law needs to be explored)
8. Decentralize Planning
Technology:
9. Follow Cooperative Extension’s model for Personal
Computer acquisition (refurbished vs. new)
10.
Convert existing manual
payroll system to an electronic system
Note: ITS has initiated a BPS
on this proposal (already in process)
Administrative:
11. Review Mandates – what services at what level –
benchmark with other counties
12. 4 day work-week (utility savings)
13. Review Rollover Policy – exclude salary lines
a. Hold benefits payment in the
Comptroller/Administration/General Fund budget rather than distributing to
departments (except departments who reimbursement form NYS depends on benefits
money being in their budgets)
14. Review Reclass Policy (decisions are presently made by
Personnel Commissioner)
15. Develop a Fleet Management Plan (how many vehicles are
in the County’s fleet?)
16. Develop an Equipment Management Plan (NACO) (a process
was attempted seven years ago).
17. Local Early Retirement Incentive (depends on the cost
and how much the County will save)
18. Incentive Funds for Transitional Planning – cost
savers, fiscal levers, or best practices
19. Continue Revision of Health Insurance Plans
Other:
20. Energy Efficiency (Vehicles, Buildings – Temperature
Settings etc)
The
Committee identified the following as areas where there was interest expressed
by Legislators in pursuing:
1 Convert existing manual payroll system to an
electronic system Note: ITS has
initiated a BPS on this proposal
2 Review Rollover Policy – exclude salary lines
3 Local Early Retirement Incentive
4 Continue Revision of Health Insurance Plans
5 Energy Efficiency (Vehicles, Buildings – Temperature
Settings etc)
It was noted that responses have been received from
only half of the Legislature; others will be encouraged to submit their
responses and discussion will continue at the next meeting. There was a brief discussion with
regard to involving department heads in the process and the best manner by
which to do that. Mr.
Koplinka-Loehr and Ms. Younger will meet to discuss an approach to that. Mr. Booth suggested the Legislature
hold a retreat to discuss these items in detail
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted by Michelle Pottorff, TC Legislature Office