Called to Order

 Mr. Koplinka-Loehr called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m.

Changes to the Agenda

 There were no changes to the agenda

Approval of Minutes of January 23, 2006

 It was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Ms. Mackesey, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the minutes of January 23, 2006 as submitted.  MINUTES APPROVED.

Chair's Report

 Mr. Koplinka-Loehr had no report.

Finance Director's Report

 Mr. Squires distributed a Contingent Fund report for 2005 to demonstrate where the County stood at year-end.    The total available balance showed $264,979; however, there are still pending year-end needs in the amount of $1,465,000.  Two big surprises that occurred during the year were Worker's Compensation in the amount of $400,000 and the Education and Transportation of Preschool Handicapped Children which is a mandated account, in the amount of $475,000.  TheTC3 Master Plan payment in the amount of $620,000 was a mid-year funding decision by the legislature that will save funds in the long-run.   He explained that the increase in Worker's Compensation is because of two claims that resulted in the reserves for those claims to double.  Mr. Squires said he intends to cover these costs by using the balance of the Contingent Fund and Unallocated Revenues, which consists primarily of sales tax and interest earnings.     Mr. Whicher said DSS programs appear to be in good shape overall; however, he noted this is the area that has the greatest exposure due to the mandated aspect of many of them.

 There was a brief discussion about the costs of the Assigned Counsel Program.  It was noted that costs include family court and misdemeanor cases; Mr. Whicher said this is an area that will need close examination in the near future, and the Public Safety Committee may explore the pros and cons of a public defender's office this year.

 A request was made by Mr. Booth that the Committee receive a breakdown of costs for both the Education and Transportation of Preschool Handicapped Children and the Assigned Counsel Programs.
County Administrator's Report

 Mr. Whicher distributed copies of an advertisement for the position of Public Information Officer and updated the Committee on the recruitment process.  He also updated the Committee on the search process for the position of Deputy County Administrator.  He said the position was advertised in a wide range of areas and at the present time 56 applications have been received.  The Search Committee includes:  Steve Whicher, Tim Joseph, Patricia Carey, Anita Fitzpatrick, David Squires, Shawn Martel-Moore, Norma Jayne, and Shelly Michell-Nun (City of Ithaca).  Legislators are encouraged to read the applications and provide responses on a rating form at the Personnel Department.

Salary Adjustments

 Mr. Whicher distributed a sample of a memorandum that was distributed to all department heads displaying 2005 salary calculations for salary adjustments for CSEA White Collar, Management, and Confidential employees. Salary adjustments were based on the 2005 total budgeted salary lines per department less longevity payments.  Norma Jayne has been going through department budgets and making these adjustments on a line-by-line basis which is needed as a result of moving the budget to a database system.

 Mr. Whicher spoke of the 2005 budget and said departments were told they would be "made whole" if they had overspent payroll lines (since funds for a possible settlement were placed in the General Fund, not individual departments); however, budgets were not just going to be increased by an "across the board" percentage figure.  He said at this time there may be two different interpretations of how this would be handled and said departments may want to have their payroll line increased by the percentage increase that was adopted with the 2005 settlements which would then, for some departments, result in excess funds in that account that could eventually become Rollover.    He demonstrated the different factors that could change the final amount needed in the payroll line at year-end. He said Ms. Jayne has been going through department budgets to figure out how much is needed by departments to cover shortfalls in payroll lines in fiscal year 2005.  This item will be discussed at the February 15 Department Head meeting, and we will have a master adjustment resolution by March.

TCAT

RESOLUTION NO.      - AUTHORIZING THE ADVANCE OF UP TO $2,100,000 OF STATE TRANSIT OPERATING ASSISTANCE (STOA) TO TOMPKINS CONSOLIDATED AREA TRANSIT (TCAT)

  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 full Legislature:

 WHEREAS, the Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit Inc. (TCAT) was originally formed under a partnership agreement among Tompkins County, Cornell University and the City of Ithaca effective January 1, 1999, and
WHEREAS, each party makes an annual contribution of equal amounts to support TCAT, and
 WHEREAS, the timing of State Aid payments severely impairs the financing of operations,  and
WHEREAS, in order to address the unequal burdens of the TCAT partners' outlays for transit operations, it is proposed that the County distribute to TCAT estimated first, second, and third quarter State Transit Operating Assistance (STOA) payments anticipated within the 2006 Adopted Budget in advance of their receipt, now therefore be it
 RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Budget and Capital Committee, That the Director of Finance is authorized to enter into an agreement with TCAT whereby the County would disburse from Budget Account 5630.54404 Transportation Services 2006 Appropriations supported by STOA payments in advance of their receipt in an amount not to exceed $2,100,000,
  RESOLVED, further, That the County will recover the loss of investment income from the advance of STOA funds by billing TCAT for the actual lost earnings based upon the application of the average monthly investment applied against the average monthly balance of advanced STOA payments,
RESOLVED, further, That the County will retain all future STOA payments until such time as the advance has been fully liquidated or reauthorized by the Tompkins County Legislature.
SEQR ACTION:  TYPE II-20

Discussion - Rollover Policy
 
 Mr. Whicher provided Committee members an explanation of the Rollover Policy and its history. He circulated copies of the form that departments will complete to request use of certified  Rollover Funds.  While reviewing the forms he said Legislators should focus on: where the money is coming from, where it is going to be spent, and are there specific plans for the funds.   The Committee briefly reviewed the form and asked questions.

Capital Projects - Updates and Timelines

 Mr. Marx distributed copies of the following revised "20-year Capital Plan" schedule:

· Distribute Working Draft to Budget and Capital and
 Facilities and Infrastructure Committees September, 2005
· Feedback from Committees on scope and
 Content of plan October/November, 2005
· Refine data and conduct additional
 Analysis/research November 2005 - March 2006
· Determine parameters to be used to measure
 Fiscal capacity February/March 2006
· Determine fiscal capacity for 20-year plan March, 2006
· Prioritize Capital needs February/March 2006
· Develop preliminary 20-year plan including
 Implementation tools April 2006
· Present plan to full Legislature April/May 2006
· Refine plan May/June 2006
· Resolution to adopt plan to Budget and Capital and
 Facilities and Infrastructure Committee June 2006
· Resolution to adopt plan to Legislature  July 2006
· Use plan to develop 2007 Capital Program/Budget July 2006

 Mr. Marx said a draft plan (to transition from five-year capital planning to 20-year capital planning) was put together last fall and presented to both the Facilities and Infrastructure and Budget and Capital Committees and feedback was received.  In terms of determining what level of debt/fiscal capacity is appropriate for the community and the County budget, he said the Legislature will need to make policy decisions in the next few months.  He said there will also need to be prioritization of projects as there are more needs identified in the Plan than can be met in the near term.

 The Committee reviewed the schedule and were pleased such a plan is being put forward.  Mr. Marx said prioritization of capital needs can begin immediately at Facilities and Infrastructure and can be a method to get this moving forward so that it can be completed on time.  He believes this year's plan will be a "first-attempt" that will be reviewed and updated in the coming years.  He will bring this to the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee in two weeks in order to begin discussion.  Mr. Booth requested that Legislators receive information as early as possible in order to have time to absorb the fiscal capacity measures and recommendations.

 Mr. Whicher stated if the Legislature is giving Administration parameters for capital project decisions then it should come back to Mr. Whicher and Mr. Squires for an analysis of the overall budget and a recommendation on when a major project can begin.  He spoke against mixing the two processes.

 Mr. Booth said the Legislature should receive information on the capital project master list (on an ongoing basis) that more easily displays projects have been approved and which have not.  Mr. Whicher said Ms. Jayne is continuing to refine the document that will provide that information.

 Mr. Marx will prepare and circulate a list of possible criteria for fiscal capacity and parameters for capital projects and present to Legislators in March.

Fiscal Policy

 Mr. Whicher provided an overview of Section 3 of the Fiscal Policy - Budget and Capital Program Format.

Committee Goals

 The Committee discussed goals included in the agenda packet and agreed to make recommendations on prioritizing those goals and submit to Administration.  This item will be discussed at that time along with those recommendations at the next meeting.

Adjournment

 The meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Respectfully submitted by Michelle Pottorff, TC Legislature Office