Budget and Capital
Committee
April 24, 2006
3 p.m.
Scott Heyman Conference Room
Present: M. Koplinka-Loehr, N Shinagawa, P. Mackesey, R. Booth, M. Sigler
Staff: S. Whicher, J. Grogan, N. Jayne, Administration; L. Holmes, Office for the Aging
Mr. Koplinka-Loehr called the meeting to order at 3:02 p.m.
The resolution entitled Appropriation from Contingent Fund for Terminal Pay - Office for the Aging, was added to the agenda.
It was MOVED by Ms. Mackesey, seconded by Mr. Booth, and unanimously adopted by voice vote to approve the minutes of April 10, 2006 as corrected. MINUTES APPROVED.
Mr. Squires had no report. He was thanked for providing the Committee with information in advance of the meeting.
Mr.
Booth commented on sales tax receipts and noted that the combined activity
between the Towns of Ithaca and Dryden ishave
substantially more activity than the City of
Ithaca. He said it is increasingly
apparent that a lot of sales activity is occurring outside of the City of
Ithaca.
Mr.
Whicher reported 2007 budget estimates for 2007 are becoming more refined; more
information will follow
later in the meeting.
Public Information Report
Mr. Grogan reported a meeting of the Public Information Advisory Board will be held this week. The Committee will be surveying departments and Legislators on the Public Information program in general. He said there is a preliminary Civil Service list for the Public Information Advisory Board and there is a good pool of candidates.
Mr. Grogan also reported on the video production component of the Public Information Program, and stated a new computer is being purchased which will provide the capability for creating streaming audio and video of Legislature meetings. Details are also being finalized for proving Internet access to Legislators during Legislature meetings, and for now funding for this (approximately $2,500 annually) will be provided by County Administration.
It was MOVED by Mr. Sigler, seconded by Mr. Booth, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to approve the following resolution and submit to the full Legislature.
WHEREAS, the Department of Emergency Response received an award from the New York State Expedited Wireless 911 Grant Fund in 2005 to assist the County in achieving “Phase 2” capability for the 911 emergency call system, and
WHEREAS, procurement processes for the funded equipment will be completed in 2006, creating a mismatched grant period and budget year, and
WHEREAS, unspent department appropriations and excess revenues from this grant total $208,000, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Public Safety and the Budget and Capital Committees, That the following transactions are approved:
TO:
Communications Equipment 3410.52222 $ 52,000
Communications Software 3410.52230 156,000
Total $208,000
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
Explanation: The grant program awarded funding for specific items including a Pictometry Mapping Program/GIS overlay (aerial photography) and software, a voice logging recorder for backup 911 operations and enhancements to the Positron telephone system. This resolution will enable those purchases to be completed and the grant fulfilled.
* * * * * * * * * * *
RESOLUTION NO. – AUTHORIZATION TO INCREASE HOURS AND APPROPRIATION FROM CONTINGENT FUND – HEALTH DEPARTMENT
It was MOVED Mr. Booth, seconded by Mr. Shinagawa, and unanimously adopted by voice vote to approve the following resolution and submit to the full Legislature:
WHEREAS, the WIC Program record review is projected to be completed by May 27, 2006, and
WHEREAS, additional staff hours are required to complete this review, including the Director of Patient Services (5 hours/week), one Community Health Nurse (20 hours/week) and one Health Aide (7 hours/week),
WHEREAS, funds were not budgeted to complete this record review and are requested from the contingent fund, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Health and Human Services and the Budget and Capital Committees, That the standard workweek of the Director of Patient Services (88-230), shall be temporarily increased from 35 hours to 40 hours per week, effective April 30, 2006,
RESOLVED, further, That the temporary increase in the authorized workweek will sunset on May 27, 2006,
RESOLVED, further, That the Director of Finance is hereby authorized and directed to make the following budget appropriation:
FROM: A1990.54440 Contingent Fund $4,684
TO: A4016.51000230 Director of Patient Services 692
A4016.51000580 Community Health Nurse 2,082
A4016.51000654 Health Aide 596
A4016.58800 Fringes 1,314
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
Explanation: The salary requested supports the review and correction of over 5,500 WIC participant records in response to a NYS Department of Health audit. Records date back to 1999 and continue up to 2005. The Director of Patient Services coordinates the review process and assists in the record review and correction. The Community Health Nurse reviews and corrects records and the clerical employee pulls and re-files records. The record search is time consuming due to the need to search through scores of boxed records in the basement and office storage.
* * * * * * * *
RESOLUTION NO. –
APPROPRIATION FROM CONTINGENT FUND FOR TERMINAL PAY
–
OFFICE FOR THE AGING
It was MOVED by Mr. Hattery, seconded by Mr.
Shinagawa, and unanimously approved by voice vote of members present, to
recommend the following resolution to the full Legislature for approval. RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
WHEREAS, the Office for the Aging had one employee, Director, terminate employment effective February 28, 2006, and
WHEREAS, the Fiscal Policy of Tompkins County allows for terminal pay replacement from the Contingent Fund, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Health and Human Services and the Budget and Capital Committees, That the Director of Finance is hereby authorized and directed to make the following budget appropriations:
FROM: A1990-5400 Contingent Fund $6,494.76
TO: A6772-51000215 Salary, Director $4,672.49
A6772-5800 Fringes $1,822.27
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
* * * * * * * * * *
RESOLUTION NO. – APPROPRIATION FROM CONTINGENT FUND –
TERMINAL PAY – BOARD OF ELECTIONS
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 full
Legislature. Mr. Whicher said he
had procedural concerns about this resolution and willould
be looking into thisit prior to approval by the full
Legislature.
WHEREAS,
the Board of Elections had an Deputy Commissioner resign effective January 24,
2006, 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 Government Operations 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 $ 6816
TO: A1450.51000175 Deputy Commissioner $ 4903
A1450.58800 Fringes $ 1913
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
* * * * * * * * * * *
At
this time the Committee walked through the assumptions contained in three 2007
budget scenarios: Scenario 1 =-
4% Tax Levy increase; Scenario 2 =- 3%
Tax Levy increase; Scenario 3 =- 0%
Tax Levy increase.
Mr.
Whicher explained the assumptions contained in the scenarios and said in order
to get to a zero increase in the tax levy,,
programs would have to seriously be cut or eliminated. A 3 % tax levy increase
would mean asking departments to absorb all payroll costs. He said the County has cut
programs over the last five to six years and that there is little, if anything,
left to trim. He
also noted this discussion pertains to the Tax Levy
and not the Tax Rate. It
was also noted that one percent in the tTax lLevy
is equivalent to $330,000.
Mr. Sigler expressed concern for the increase in non-mandated services from $39,000,578 in 2006 to $42,740,162 in 2007. It was explained by Ms. Jayne that this increase reflects $1.2 million in 2007 salary adjustments and $2.8 million target changes (including 2006 salary adjustments).
Mr. Shinagawa said he would like to see a scenario showing a 6% Tax Levy increase.
Ms. Mackesey said Legislators need to keep in mind in all scenarios that additional funds will need to be added because of needed repairs to County buildings. Mr. Shinagawa agreed, and said under even existing assumptions, capital and building repair costs are going to make this a very difficult budget year.
Mr. Sigler said he would recommend Scenario 3 = 0%. Although he feels it may be harsh on departments organization-wide, he feels it would force the County to look at what it can live without.
Mr. Koplinka-Loehr said he wants to be cognizant of the effect on morale of scenarios with consequences of severe program cuts on the entire organization. He said the energy that goes into staff trying to meet the Legislature's goal that may or may not be realistic does take a toll on the workforce. Mr. Whicher reinforced Mr. Koplinka-Loehr's comments and said the County's greatest resource is its workforce.
Mr. Shingawa said a zero percent increase in the Tax Levy will appear as "status quo" to the public; however, it is in fact, a decrease. Secondly, he said this is a directive to management to plan their budget for the next year and believes that directive should be as realistic as possible.
Mr. Booth noted that most of what is "non-mandated" (line 2; General Revenue summary page) is actually some type of support for mandated services.
It was MOVED by Mr. Sigler, seconded by Mr. Booth, and unanimously adopted by the Committee, to present the following resolution to the full Legislature for discussion at the upcoming Legislature Retreat.
WHEREAS, Tompkins County, as part of its budget policy and process, wishes to develop financial parameters for the County, to establish the framework for the budget over the next year, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on
recommendation of the Budget and Capital Committee, That the Legislature
establishes the goal of a maximum annual tax levy increase of three (3) percent
for 2007 resulting in a 1.3 percent tax rate increase for 2007 also resulting
in a projected decrease of $1 million in locally controlled spending over 2007
projections,
RESOLVED, further, That the County Administrator shall be charged to recommend modifications to employee health and prescription costs and further consolidations of departments and functions where opportunities exist for improved efficiencies,
RESOLVED, further, That the County establish a goal of minimally maintaining workforce levels at 95 percent of the current level in the 2006 Budget, to be attained through attrition and retirement if required, in meeting the previously referenced goals.
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20
* * * * * * * * *
This
item was presented for information only.
20-Year
Capital Program
Table - Parameters for Evaluating Capital Program
|
Measure |
Statewide Average -2003 |
Comparable Counties
–2003 |
2003 Tompkins County* |
Range Used in Capital
Plan for Tompkins County* |
|
Debt Service as % of
Full Taxable Assessed Value |
.13% |
.02 - .23% |
.11% |
.10-.12% |
|
Debt Service as % of
General Fund Expenditures |
NA |
NA |
4.4% |
5-10% |
|
Total Indebtedness as %
of Constitutional Debt Limit |
6.9% |
3.6 – 18.5% |
15.5% |
10-25% |
|
Annual Increase in Debt
Service as % of Tax Levy |
NA |
NA |
.3% |
1-3% |
*
These figures are not directly comparable as the 2003 figures include some debt
not financed by general fund revenues.
Mr.
Marx distributed a document entitled Table 7. Parameters for Evaluating Capital
Program. He said the Facilities
and Infrastructure Committee will be discussing this tomorrow and developing a
list of recommended priorities. Mr. Marx said if
these parameters are agreed upon, the Plan should be ready in draft form in
a few days. Mr. Booth asked Mr. Marx to use
2007 budget scenarios in the table (as an example year) so the Legislature can tie the two
items together. Mr. Marx strongly recommended that the document be adopted
and not accepted although changes could be made annually.
Mr.
Marx noted during the discussion that Tompkins County is below the range for
debt service as a percentage of net General Fund Expenditures
(using $66 million as compared to statewide averages of other
counties). The range is 5-10%; Tompkins County is
at 4%.
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