Call to Order

 Mr. Penniman called the meeting to order at 2:07 p.m.

Approval of Minutes of November 12, 2002

 It was MOVED by Ms. Robertson, seconded by Mr. Todd, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the minutes of November 12, 2002 as corrected.  MINUTES APPROVED.

Changes to the Agenda

 There were no changes to the agenda.

Chair's Report

 Mr. Penniman distributed a brief summary of adjustments that were made as a result of the adoption of the final 2003 Tompkins County Budget.

Finance Director's Report

 Mr. Squires said at the last meeting he distributed a copy of a letter from the Underwriters to see if there was any interest in securitizing the remaining tobacco settlement funds.  He asked if there is a desire by members of the Committee to invite them to a meeting to discuss this further.  He said because the County authorized the sale of its interest there is no immediate deadline to take action; however, a decision on this should be made at the beginning of the year.  Mr. Booth said he was not involved in the discussions that took place on this matter and would like to hear more about this at some point.  Mr. Penniman said he would put together information and will present it to the Committee and see if there is interest in holding a larger discussion.

 Mr. Squires reported on the advance of STOA (State Transportation Operating Assistance) funds to TCAT and said this was a successful experience.  He said TCAT will be coming forward asking to do this again in 2003.  Mr. Squires noted this did not result in any cost to the County because TCAT was charged the exact amount of the interest.

 A report was also given on the financing for the North Triphammer Road project.   Mr. Squires said the County borrowed $2,770,000 in anticipation of State Aid for the project but it is unlikely the County will receive all of the funding back by year-end.  This is because the State requires the County to furnish canceled checks on all disbursements before they will process them.  He said it takes approximately thirty days to receive a canceled check and another thirty days for the State to process the reimbursement.   Mr. Squires said of the $2.7 million expended, the County has received $739,000 back and he expects to receive another $700,000 within the next three weeks with the note due at the end of the year.  He said this means the County will come up short in terms of the actual cash being reimbursed to pay back the note and the General Fund will have to makeup the difference until the reimbursements are received.

DSS Budget

 Mr. Squires said at the last meeting he reported that it appeared the County was picking up a greater share of the Family Assistance Program in DSS.  He said his conclusion is based upon the methodology that they had a budget supported a reimbursement rate of 75 percent but were only receiving 65 percent.  Mr. Herden distributed an analysis that he prepared.

 Mr. Herden said at the time of the last meeting it was estimated there would be a shortfall of $640,000 in the Family Assistance Program.  He said he now expects that figure to be approximately $455,000.   Mr. Herden said he estimates approximately $360,000 of that amount can be attributed to a few different ways the State have increased local costs in requiring counties to meet the TANIFF maintenance of effort requirement.   He said the State has calculated how far they think the State as a whole might fall short of the TANIFF maintenance of effort level and then withhold from local districts the federal reimbursement they would normally receive.  The State then would restore to local districts half of that money using State funds; therefore, the shortfall is made up of half State dollars and the other half with local dollars.   He said the State has said it will be restoring some of those monies to local districts and in the current year budget there was approximately $200,000 that was anticipated to be paid back to Tompkins County.  He expects the County will receive a total of $130,000 of that amount.  Mr. Herdon also reported on the EAF (Foster Care program) and the PINS Program and stated these are also areas of budget shortfalls.

 Ms. Dolan also reported the State of New York is bringing three additional Medicaid programs on-line: a breast and cervical cancer program that will provide treatment services to women who have been defined through a very defined process; a family planning Medicaid program which has been very hard to pin down in terms of potential costs; and a plan for covering the working disabled.  Ms. Dolan said she expects the benefit costs to be significantly higher on a per-capita basis; however, at this time she does not have a good estimate of the number of individuals who will be covered.  She said although they have not yet determined what the local cost will be, there will be two impacts on the Department from these programs; one on the cost of the A Mandate programs and the other cost will be the administrative burden of processing these applications.

 Ms. Dolan stated another problem is kids in childcare institutions and emergency shelters.  She said these are very extraordinarily expensive places to pay for and they are trying several different avenues to reduce emergency shelter costs.   She said for the calendar year 2001 there were stays in the emergency shelter for longer periods of time.

 Ms. Dolan said at the federal level they have declined to extend unemployment benefits and she believes will have another significant impact on the Department's caseloads.

 Mr. Squires was asked what the impact would be on the Department's 2002 budget.  Mr. Squires said it would be approximately $1.5 to $2 million due to Medicaid, the Family Assistance Program, and the increased local share that is driven by the rate of expenditure in other accounts.

 It was MOVED by Ms. Robertson, seconded by Mr. Booth, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the following resolution and submit to the full Board:

RESOLUTION NO.       - AUTHORIZING BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS AND USE OF CONTINGENCY FUNDS FOR DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL  SERVICES’ MANDATE PROGRAMS

WHEREAS, expenditures in several Mandate programs in the Department of Social Services are projected to exceed the amounts budgeted for them in 2002, with associated increases in revenues and local cost, and
WHEREAS, there are insufficient local funds in other Social Services Mandate programs to cover the projected shortfalls through budget transfers, and
WHEREAS, utilization of day care subsidy programs has run high in 2002 with non-mandatory daycare subsidies reimbursed at one hundred percent from the Child Care Block Grant, while Mandatory subsidies are reimbursed at seventy-five percent up to the total block grant allocation, and
WHEREAS, medical transportation expenses have been over-budget all year, and
WHEREAS, foster care costs have been running over budget all year, driven by court-ordered placements, clients with high-level needs, and increases in the New York State-calculated institutional payment rates, and
WHEREAS, Safety Net costs have also run over budget all year, driven by a sustained jump in emergency shelter costs, and this New York State-mandated program does not qualify for Federal reimbursement and is split fifty/fifty with the State, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Health and Human Services and the Budget and Capital Committees, That the Director of Finance be authorized and directed to execute the following budget adjustments and appropriation from the Contingent Fund:

APPROPRIATION:

FROM: A1990.54400 Contingent Fund    $  416,700
TO: A6055.54400 Day Care (Mandated)         23,200
A6101.54400 Medicaid – Non-MMIS           6,000
A6119.54400 Foster Care        240,000
A6140.54400 Safety Net        140,000
A6142.54400 Aid to Dependent Children          7,500

BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS:
 
REVENUE:  A6055.43655 NYS Child Care Block Grant  $ 197,200
  A6101.44601 Federal Medical Assistance       12,000
 A6119.43619 NYS Foster Care         10,000
 A6119.44619 Federal Foster Care      240,000
 A6140.43640 NYS Safety Net       140,000
 A6142.43642 NYS Aid to Dependent Children         7,500

APPROPRIATION: A6055.54400 Day Care (Optional)        197,200
A6101.54400 Medicaid – Non-MMIS          12,000
A6119.54400 Foster Care         250,000
A6140.54400 Safety Net         140,000
A6142.54400 Aid to Dependent Children           7,500
SEQR ACTION:  TYPE II-20

County Administrator's Report

 Mr. Whicher said there have been several calls received by County Representatives in regard to the budget for the SPCA.  Mr. Whicher reminded Board members that there was a substantial increase made in their allocation in 2001.  Mr. Whicher also provided a list of cuts that were made to the Public Health Department.  Mr. Joseph asked Mr. Whicher to provide a breakdown of funds that are given to the SPCA that shows how much is given for general services and how much is for services that are contracted for.   Mrs. Smithers said the only time the County pays for a contract for a service is when it is a professional service contract within a departmental budget.  She stated every other appropriation that is made directly to an agency when no department is involved, is considered a grant and not for the purchase of any particular service.

Deputy County Administrator's Report
 
 Mrs. Smithers had no report.

Review of Revised Tax Bill Format

 At this time the Committee reviewed a draft of a proposed format for the property tax bill.  There was a lengthy discussion about should appear under the Mandate section of the bill as it is there are many items that are mandated; however, also contain many components that could be argued as not clearly mandated by the State.

 At this time Mr. Joseph, Chair, of the Board, appointed himself to the Committee in Representative McBean's absence.

 It was MOVED by Mr. Joseph and seconded by Mr. Booth to revise the property tax bill in the following format to include: a line showing the Tompkins County Assessment and total tax; and under that, a line showing State mandated services and Other County Services; using only A Mandates

 It was MOVED by Mr. Penniman, seconded by Ms. Robertson, to amend the motion to include B Mandates, except debt service.    A voice vote resulted as follows:  Ayes - Booth, Penniman, Robertson, and Joseph); Excused - 1 (McBean); Noes - 1 (Todd).  It was requested that also included be a list of the debt service and capital expenses.  MOTION CARRIED.  A voice vote on original motion as amended  resulted as follows:  Ayes - Booth, Penniman, Robertson, and Joseph); Excused - 1 (McBean); Noes - 1 (Todd).  It was requested that also included be a list of the debt service and capital expenses.  MOTION CARRIED.

 A special meeting was scheduled on December 3 at 5 p.m. to review the tax bill in this format prior to presenting to the full Board and the Board meeting that evening.
 
Postponement of Agenda Items

 Due to time constraints, the following items were deferred to the next meeting:

 Discussion and Approval:  Article 5 of the Charter - Financial Procedures and Controls
 Resolution:  Amendment to Fiscal Policy 5.02 - Budget Adjustments

Adjournment

 The meeting adjourned at 4:11 p.m.