Called to Order
The meeting was called to order at 3:07 p.m.
Changes to Agenda
There were no changes to the agenda.
Approval of Minutes
It was MOVED by Mr. Shinagawa, seconded by Mr. Booth, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the minutes of the March 13, 2006, meeting as submitted. MINUTES APPROVED.
Comments from the Public
There was no one present from the public.
Report from the Committee Chair
Mr. Koplinka-Loehr reminded Committee members of the budget retreat scheduled for April 27th. However, he noted that a request was made by Legislator Robertson to change the time of the retreat to accommodate a meeting being held that evening concerning underage drinking. Mr. Koplinka-Loehr agreed to send an email to Legislators asking them if they wish to change the time.
Report from the Finance Director
Mr. Squires distributed and reviewed the final 2005 Contingent Fund report. He believes the General Fund will end up stable with an approximate balance of $10 million. He reported that he adjusted the General Fund by transferring $1.1 million from the Medicaid account (non-mandated account) to take care of unanticipated items.
Ms. Mackesey arrived at this time.
In regard to the Tobacco Settlement, Mr. Squires reported the tobacco companies have submitted to arbitration a reduction in the settlement. The arbitrator is expected to rule on this sometime this week. Their contention is that they made the settlement based upon certain circumstances and the conditions have changed.
Mr. Koplinka-Loehr requested Ms. Jayne to circulate the budget calendar to all Legislators and highlight the areas Committee chairs need to pay attention to.
Report from the County Administrator
Mr. Whicher said he did not have a report.
Budget Projections
Mr. Koplinka-Loehr said the purpose of this discussion is to give the Committee a framework for assumptions behind very general projections for 2007 and to decide what information is needed by Legislators to be able to arrive at a parameter/directive for the organization during the budget retreat.
At this time, copies of the General Revenue summary dated March 27, 2006 were distributed. Mr. Whicher reviewed four 2007 projections based on a range of property tax levy changes and assumptions therein. Following the review of this information, the Committee requested additional background information on the proposal to include $1 million in a Fund Balance Appropriation (for Debt) for the Capital Program and what was the thinking behind the over-target request numbers/assumptions included in the projections. Mr. Whicher said more information will be provided and an analysis will be done on the 20-year capital program plan before April 27th.
The following
documents were distributed and reviewed by Mr. Whicher:
- proposed
2006-2010 Capital Program (new layout by Norma Jayne)
- budget comparisons
and amounts and how they have changed over the last five years (by program
committee and then department)
Mr. Booth requested that a Program Committee subcategory total column be added to the budget comparison document. Ms. Jayne agreed to add that information.
Solid Waste Division
Resolution
It was
MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mr. Shinagawa, to approve and submit the
following resolution to the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee.
Ms. Eckstrom explained the need to refine the fee structure for vehicles
at the Recycling and Solid Waste Center. The new fee structure as
implemented on March 1 addressed the traffic issues. However, this
as resulted in a loss of revenue for the department of approximately $250
per day. She reminded the Committee that the purpose of the Center
is to try to reduce, reuse, and recycle and feels the new fee structure
has done away with that concept.
The Director of Weights and Measures has received approval by the New York State Commissioner of Weights and Measures to allow Tompkins County to administer a three-tier flat fee payment system for vehicles with a net load weight of less than 1,000 pounds.
Ms. Eckstrom commented that out of the 40,000 vehicles entering the facility, only 1200 will be impacted by this proposed fee structure.
Mr. Booth
requested and the Committee agreed that the fourth Whereas be reworded
as follows: “WHEREAS, the ten dollar flat fee for does not meet the
actual costs, and”.
A voice
vote resulted as follows on the resolution as revised: Ayes – 4;
Noes – 0; Absent – 1 (Sigler). RESOLUTION CARRIED.
RESOLUTION
NO. - ESTABLISHING A TIERED FLAT FEE STRUCTURE FOR
VEHICLES WITH A NET LOAD WEIGHT OF LESS THAN 1,000
POUNDS THAT TIP SOLID WASTE AT THE RECYCLING AND
SOLID WASTE CENTER (RSWC)
WHEREAS,
by Resolution No. 264 of 2005 the Legislature established a flat fee structure
for charging cars, pick-up trucks and full sized vans for tipping of garbage
at the Recycling and Solid Waste Center (RSWC), and
WHEREAS,
the Legislature established a five dollar rate for cars, minivans and sport
utility vehicles and a ten dollar rate for pick-up trucks and full size
vans, and
WHEREAS,
the implementation of the flat fee structure has considerably improved
the flow of traffic at the RSWC since its implementation on March 1, 2006,
and
WHEREAS,
the ten dollar flat fee does not meet actual costs, and
WHEREAS,
a more equitable system would charge vehicles carrying large quantities
of solid waste more than vehicles carrying significantly less waste, and
WHEREAS,
when initially discussed with the County Director of Weights and Measures
he was informed by Regional New York State Weights and Measures staff that
a tiered system was illegal, now he has received approval from the New
York State Commissioner of Weights and Measures to administer this system,
and
WHEREAS,
by adopting a three-tier system for charging vehicles with net loads of
garbage less than 1,000 pounds, the County can continue the flat fee structure
and ensure that the County does not suffer significant financial losses,
now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
on recommendation of the Facilities and Infrastructure Committee, that
the tipping fee at the RSWC for vehicles with net loads of garbage less
than 1,000 pounds shall be as follows:
Weight Flat Fee
0 to 333 lbs
$10
334 lbs to
666 lbs $20
667 lbs to
999 lbs $30
RESOLVED,
further, that these changes shall take effect on April 17, 2006.
RESOLVED,
further that the five-dollar rate for cars, minivans and sport utility
vehicles remain in effect.
SEQR ACTION:
TYPE II-20
_____________
2005 Example Salary Adjustment Report
Mr. Whicher
provided a brief report on the 2005 salary adjustment discussions relating
to contract settlements. The 2005 contracts were not settled when
departments prepared their 2006 budgets and therefore the salaries were
not budgeted in departmental budgets. A dollar amount was estimated
and placed in the General Fund. In the resolution adopted by the
Legislature, it stated that the General Fund would “make departments whole”
but that is open to interpretation. This has also raised questions
about the rollover policy because at the end of the year, departments are
allowed to roll over any monies left over to the next year. The question
that now needs to be addressed is whether the money should be left in the
General Fund or distributed to the departments. At this time, Mr.
Whicher provided examples of salary adjustments without identifying the
departments in hopes of giving Committee members more information before
an interpretation of policy recommendation is made at the next meeting.
Mr. Whicher will also be discussing this further with Department Heads
at a special meeting on March 29th. It was noted that salary adjustments
for management and confidential employees were made to the appropriate
department budgets. Mr. Whicher said the issue is the $334,347 (Department
Cost) that was not authorized by the Legislature for expenditure by the
departments during the year (adopted tax levy). It is also the amount
needed to make departments whole.
Mr.
Koplinka-Loehr said the Committee will discuss this further after having
feedback from Department Heads. A draft resolution and a copy of the rollover
policy will be made available for members to review and consider.
Retreat Examples
Ms. Jayne distributed copies of a draft Fiscal Target Report (for 2007 budget planning purposes) and very detailed information concerning the 2007 Human Service Funding Review Process.
Following discussion, the Committee agreed that the budget documents as presented would be useful for the retreat. In addition, Committee members requested mandated and non-mandated information be made available at the retreat.
Mr. Koplinka-Loehr requested the 2005 retreat packet of information distributed at the last meeting be circulated to all Committee members for review. Ms. Mackesey agreed to pass the information to Mr. Shinagawa following her review.
Further discussion followed concerning availability of information pertaining to budget reviews of Human Services Coalition agencies, and the Committee agreed that detailed information be on file with Administration as always and made available upon request but did not need to be copied for the entire Legislature. Mr. Koplinka-Loehr also requested that the membership of the Human Services Coalition review committee be included in the County’s “big” budget book for Legislators.
Review of 2006 Committee Goals
Mr. Koplinka-Loehr provided a status report on the 2006 Committee goals as follows:
Priority
1 Oversee
implementation of the 2006 budget and the development of future budgets
that maintain the County’s fiscal health.· Ongoing discussions
2 Improve
Capital Program reviews and sequence in advance of budget processes, incorporating
20-year capital planning horizon.· Ongoing discussions
3 Monitor
proposed changes in the NY State and Federal budgets and their impact on
County finances.· Ongoing discussions
4 Review fiscal
policies.· Request Administration to develop a schedule of review
for committee to consider
5 Develop
2007-09 fiscal parameters in cooperation with the entire Legislature.·
Budget Retreat scheduled for April 27th. On task
6 Work toward
reducing the fringe rate by 2% over the next 2 years.· Work with
Personnel Committee and Administration
7 Educate
and equip committee members and legislators in budget process and decision
making tools.· Continuing process—some will occur in April
8 Continue
to improve the budget process, including a focus on what fiscal management
tools and information are needed by Legislators to be able to review policy
questions throughout the year.· Administration will distribute budget
calendar to all Legislators highlighting sections for committee chairs
to consider thinking about policy questions.
9 Establish
an Audit Sub-committee to comply with pending Federal mandate.·
Finance Director said this will likely need to be discussed further at
a future meeting. There are questions about having an audit committee
for other entities and the level of training required. Mr. Booth
would like the committee to discuss the membership of this group at that
time. He would be will to serve if adequate training were provided to meet
the mandated responsibilities.
10 Explore
increasing the fund balance to meet future fiscal challenges.· Ongoing
discussions
11 Continue
to monitor the recommendations of the Budget Community Advisory Panel.·
Review every three months
12 Continue
to explore revenue options available to the County (fees, sales tax, mortgage
recording tax, etc.).· Possible revisit later in the year
13 Continue
focus on public understanding of and confidence in the budget processes
and outcomes.· Work with Public Information Officer
14 Assist
the Strategic Planning Committee in setting organization-wide priorities.·
Mr. Koplinka-Loehr will work on this and ask a management team of department
heads to assist.
15 Monitor
and continue to blend 3-year departmental budget projections into annual
reports, annual work plans, and goals/objectives. · Ongoing
work
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.