Staff: R. Erb, K. West, W. Skinner, D. Squires, M. Pottorff
 
 

Mr. Joseph called the meeting to order at 9:17 a.m.

Changes to the Agenda

There were no changes to the agenda.

Approval of Minutes of August 19, 1999

It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Mrs. Schuler, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the minutes of August 19, 1999 as corrected. MINUTES APPROVED.

Chair's Report

Mr. Joseph had no report.

Report from the County Administrator

Mr. Erb reported everyone should have received their budget book by now and his office will do its best to get the rest of the information out quickly and accurately. They are looking at next year’s schedule to find ways to get this information out sooner. Mr. Erb said his recommendations are based on an increased utilization of the fund balance which increases the County's dependence on surplus. They did not forecast or use any of the tobacco settlement funds in anyway. He believes for the initial year, the County will have to use the tobacco money very conservatively. He said there was some impact on that budget from State legislation issues, especially in Class A mandates and the Medicaid program. He said all of the available surplus in his budget.

There was a brief discussion about giving program committees direction in the budget review process. Mr. Koplinka-Loehr said he would like to have committees prioritize their top three requests and ask that no committee submit a total committee recommendation above five percent. There was concern that program committees are not making cuts and departments want to get to cuts sooner than wait until the Budget and Quality Planning Committee reviews their budget requests.

Mr. Todd arrived at 9:25 a.m.

Mr. Proto asked what percentage of the County Administrator’s 5.4 percent recommendation does the County not have control over. Ms. West said this figure is likely below five percent, however, could not provide an accurate estimate at this time.

Mr. Joseph said he is against giving direction to program committees although program committees do not make cuts. He said he has paid attention to what has been done in the past and has thought about what happens at the program review level. The reason is that when you go to make a decision about a budget, you must first learn about the proposal and come to understand it. The second thing you do is share that information. The first round is when the budget committee learns what the program committee has learned. Budget cuts are not made until after that happens. He objects to Mr. Koplinka-Loehr's suggestion because he feels by imposing a limit at the committee level, options to the full Board are cut off. He also feels that if the program committee review is eliminated, clarity that is now being brought to the Budget Committee will be lost.

Mrs. Schuler said departments are now making more efforts to educate program committees throughout the year. The result is that program committees are more educated at budget time so their feelings should have more weight.

Mr. Koplinka-Loehr said he wishes program committees would give more attention to balancing the mission and vision and believes cutting should start earlier by those who know the most information (program committees).

It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Mrs. Schuler, to give program committees direction to come forward with a cap on spending and a list of priorities. A voice vote on the motion resulted as follows: Ayes – 2 (Koplinka-Loehr and Schuler); Noes - 5 (Davis, Joseph, Penniman, Proto, and Todd). Noes MOTION FAILED.

It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Ms. Davis, to direct program committees to prioritize all budget requests (with it being understood that the consequence of not prioritizing is that the Budget and Quality Planning Committee would not have guidance and could make cuts in the way the departments would not appreciate. Therefore, it is in the program committee's best interest to prioritize budget requests).

Mr. Joseph spoke against prioritization because the last time it was done it turned out to be both difficult and last minute, and therefore sloppily done and not as meaningful as the Board had hoped. He feels the purpose it serves is served equally well or better by having all the program committee members included in the Budget Committee review process.

Mr. Penniman thinks it would be very difficult for program committees to try to put all of their programs in a prioritized order, and suggested asking for the top three to five or the bottom three to five.

Mr. Todd asked how much surplus various departments will have at the end of the year. He said he thinks that information should be part of the decision-making process because he does not feel comfortable seeing one department with a very large surplus while another has a large deficit. Ms. West said rollover information is contained in the budget books distributed to all Board members.

A voice vote on the motion resulted as follows: Ayes - 4 (Koplinka-Loehr, Davis, Penniman, and Schuler); Noes - 3 (Joseph, Proto, and Todd). MOTION CARRIED.

Report from the Finance Director

Mr. Squires reported on balances in payroll accounts, and stated the Sheriff has made a tremendous reduction in the cost over the last six payroll cycles, and if they stay within the current level that Department will end up within its budget by year-end. He said he will present the Committee with information on all County departments at the next meeting.

Report from the Deputy County Administrator

Ms. West had no report.

Mr. Meskill said since the beginning of the year the Department has negotiated or renegotiated all of these contracts where people have Medicaid rates, with the exception of dentists.

Mr. Joseph feels the statement made by Mr. Meskill is an argument for not making this a Class A mandate because the purpose of a Class A mandate is for items that departments have absolutely no control over, and where the Board cannot provide an incentive to do a better job. He said this should be a "B" mandate so that the Department will have the incentive to keep this under control.

Mr. Meskill said a letter was sent out in January to tell all medical providers what the rate was that the Department was willing to pay and if they would not accept it they would not be sent any more people. He said the only item that was negotiated was the drug contract where they got the pharmacists to basically pay the same rate as a Medicaid recipient. He said there have been a couple of catastrophic cases where they have had inmates in a hospital for long periods of time this year and who have incurred major expenses even at the Medicaid rate. Besides those medical bills, there is also the issue of overtime costs to guard someone who is in the hospital. He does not feel it is fair to the Department to use money that was set aside for other purposes to pay for these unforeseen expenses, and asked what the Department should do about these catastrophic expenses. Mr. Joseph said in these cases the Department should submit a Contingent Fund request to cover these costs. Mr. Meskill said he wants the Board to clearly understand that he will have to ask for money to pay for these types of catastrophic expenses. He said the Department had money in its medical account to cover expenses such as doctor and dentist visits. It does not contain enough money to pay for any hospital stay.

Mr. Squires said he hopes the Department has not been withholding any bills because that would only damage the County's credit situation.

A voice vote resulted as follows: Ayes - 2 (Koplinka-Loehr and Penniman); Noes - 5 (Joseph, Davis, Proto, Schuler, and Todd). MOTION FAILED. The version approved by the Public Safety Committee will be placed on the Board agenda. The following is a version of the resolution considered and defeated by this Committee.

WHEREAS, the Tompkins County Jail is mandated by the New York State Commission of Corrections to provide adequate medical care to the inmates housed at the Tompkins County Jail, and

WHEREAS, the County has very little control over the type and extent of professional services that will be provided, and

WHEREAS, the unpredictable cost for these professional services may have a major impact on the operating budget of the Tompkins county Jail, now therefore be it

RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Public Safety and Budget and Quality Planning Committees, That Inmate Professional Medical Services at the Tompkins County Jail is now classified as Class A mandate.

SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20

Mr. Joseph said this resolution clarifies that this money would go in to the fringe pool and would remain there to offset future health insurance increases. The past discussion centered around whether the Board wanted separate pools of reserves such as a health insurance reserve, or is the General Fund a reserve for many different purposes and there is no need for special pools.

Mr. Proto suggested postponing this indefinitely until the special committee on health benefits makes a recommendation. He does not believe all of this money should go to the fringe pool but some should be used to go back to taxpayers. He said this could just sit in the General Fund until the Board knows what the entire budget process looks like. Mr. Penniman said if the County had a larger pool, the fringe rate charged to departments could be less and this would mean less expense to taxpayers.

A voice vote on the resolution resulted as follows: Ayes - 4 (Koplinka-Loehr, Davis, Penniman, and Schuler); Noes - 3 (Joseph, Proto, and Todd). MOTION CARRIED.

WHEREAS, Board Resolution No. 135 of 1995 established a Fringe Benefit Payment Pool to simplify the calculation of fringe benefit costs in County departments, create stability for small to medium-sized County departments who currently can seriously be harmed by relatively small changes in fringe benefit costs, accommodate midyear changes, and provide a buffer against radical year-to-year changes in fringe benefit costs, and

WHEREAS, the County from time-to-time receives rebates based on the premiums paid and cost of providing medical services in a previous year, now therefore be it

RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Budget and Quality Planning Committee, That the Director of Finance be instructed to utilize the County's share of any health insurance rebate as a supplement to the Fringe Benefit Payment Pool with the intent to stabilize future impending changes in the Fringe Benefits Rate as a result of increases in health insurance rates.

SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20

Discussion - Tobacco Settlement

The Committee briefly discussed a letter contained in the agenda packet written by Mr. Joseph to Senator James Seward regarding state reimbursement for housing of D and E felons in County jail. The letter expresses strong opposition to the State shifting expenses to counties with the notion that monies received in the tobacco settlement will help to offset losses in revenue. The letter states that if this is the State's intention, then counties are wasting their time debating what to do with tobacco settlement monies.

Budget Calendar

The Committee reviewed the budget calendar proposed by Mr. Joseph. It was agreed that Mr. Joseph and Ms. West would redo the calendar, taking into consideration the suggestions made by the Committee.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 11:02 a.m.

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