Called to Order

 The meeting was called to order at 11:35 a.m.

Changes to Agenda

 Mr. Penniman withdrew the agenda item concerning Mandate Classification.  However, he said he would like to discuss the subject at a future meeting.

Approval of Minutes

 It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Mr. Booth, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the minutes of the September 9, 2003 meeting as submitted.

Report from the Chair

 Mr. Penniman spoke about the public forum being held September 30th and said handouts will be available at the meeting.  There will be a 20-minute introduction explaining the budget and why costs are increasing and then open the meeting up to public comment.

Report from the Finance Director

 Mr. Squires distributed copies of the Contingency Fund report and reviewed the debt service and said 34 percent of outstanding debt is related to mandated operations.

Report from the County Administrator

 Mr. Whicher said he did not have a report.

Report from the Deputy County Administrator

 Mrs. Smithers said she did not have a report; she reviewed the proposed budget document distributed to Committee members.

Resolution - STOP-DWI Program

 It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Mr. Booth, to submit the following resolution to the full Legislature for approval.  Ms. Schuler expressed her concern with the outreach and education piece and asked for assurance it will continue.  Mr. Marx said the program areas will continue and will be done by the existing agencies that are currently doing them.  Next year, Mr. Beach will continue in a consulting role primarily focusing on the educational aspect.  In the long-range, the educational piece may be done by a number of agencies but will remain a piece of the program.  Mr. Joseph said the current program pays for a full-time staff person.  The enforcement piece is done through grants and the staff person is responsible for the education piece.  He understands Mr. Marx to say that the education piece will continue next year, but a decision will need to be made on how it will be handled in the future.  Mr. Marx said next year will be a transition period and allow the time needed to understand the programs.

 A voice vote resulted as follows:  Ayes - 4; Noes - 0; Excused - 1 (Todd).  RESOLUTION CARRIED.

RESOLUTION NO.         - PROGRAM RECONFIGURATION - PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION – STOP-DWI PROGRAM

 WHEREAS, the appointment of a Special Traffic Options Program (STOP-DWI) Coordinator is a function of the County Administrator subject to confirmation by the Tompkins County Legislature, and
 WHEREAS, the Special Traffic Options Program carries a strong relationship with activities within the Ithaca-Tompkins County Transportation Council (ITCTC), and
 WHEREAS, the collaboration between these two programs would be greatly enhanced by assigning the STOP-DWI program to the Planning Department where staff resources and the ITCTC program are present, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Planning, Development and Environmental Quality, Public Safety, and Budget and Capital Committees, That effective January 1, 2004, the Special Traffic Options Program be a program within the Planning Department,
RESOLVED, further, That administrative oversight be the responsibility of the Commissioner of Planning,
RESOLVED, further, That pursuant to State Law, funds will continue to be isolated in their own program account, not to be commingled with funding for the Planning Department or ITCTC.
SEQR ACTION:  TYPE II-20

Resolution - Sheriff's Union Contract - Salaries and Fringes

 It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Mr. Booth, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to submit the following resolution to the full Legislature for approval:

RESOLUTION NO.   - APPROPRIATION FROM CONTINGENT FUND FOR SALARY AND FRINGES AS AUTHORIZED IN THE MARCH 1, 2001 – FEBRUARY 28, 2004 SHERIFF’S UNION CONTRACT - SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
 
 WHEREAS, the 2003 Tompkins County Budget includes $127,929 of Contingent Funds identified specifically for the Sheriffs’ Union contract negotiation settlement, and
 WHEREAS, the funding approved was fully offset by December 31, 2001, Certified Surplus within the Sheriff’s budget and did not result in any increase in the 2003 Property Tax Levy, and
WHEREAS, these funds are now required to satisfy a portion of the retroactive settlement authorized by the March 1, 2001 – February 28, 2004, Employees' Union of the Tompkins County Sheriff's Department as ratified by the bargaining unit and approved by the Tompkins County Legislature via Resolution No. 176 on August 19, 2003, now therefore be it
 RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Public Safety and Budget and Capital Committees, That $127,929 be appropriated from the 2003 Contingent Fund for the Sheriff’s Department personnel and fringe accounts affected by the contract settlement.
SEQR ACTION:  TYPE II-20

TCAT Budget

 Operating Budget
Mr. Carnrike reviewed the Operating Budget for Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT).  TCAT is requesting a three percent over-target increase from the partners; Tompkins County's share is $14,288.  Mr. Carnrike said the bus fares will be increasing from $1.00 to $1.50.

 Mr. Penniman asked what the impact of a five percent cut in funding would have on TCAT.  Mr. Carnrike said it would be very detrimental to the service.  At the last TCAT Board meeting, the budget committee had asked the Operations Committee to go back and look at route reductions and said this will be discussed further in October.  There are some cost savings that can happen, but most of the costs are fixed such as utilities and fuel.  Ms. Blanchard also reminded the Committee that a five percent cut would mean a 15 percent cut (five percent cut from each partner).   Mr. Proto said reducing routes and raising fares too much defeats the purpose and will have a negative impact as it will result in not reaching out the people who need the service.

 Following further discussion, it was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Ms. Schuler, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve TCAT's operating base budget and over-target request of $14,288.

 Capital Budget
 At this time the Committee reviewed TCAT's capital budget.  Ms. Blanchard explained the project is a two-phase approach.  The first phase includes bus stop upgrades on Aurora Street, Tioga Street, and Cayuga Street and working with the City on plans for Green Street.  The second phase includes Green Street and a grant will be applied for when plans are finalized with the City.

 A question was raised as to whether TCAT received the $30,000 that had been reserved in the Contingency Fund this year, and if not, could this amount be used for the capital amount being requested.   A brief discussion followed, and the Committee agreed to have the appropriate staff research this and make a recommendation at the Expanded Budget Committee meeting.

Mortgage Tax Proposal

 Mr. Whicher said that during the review of the TCAT budget last year, the subject of a mortgage tax proposal came up and a request made to the State Legislature that did not get through.  He has continued to think about the issue and asked the County Attorney to conduct a Mortgage Tax review.  There are three mortgage taxes the County has authority to levy.  The first is a mandated base mortgage tax of $.50 per $100 (1/2 percent) and is distributed to municipalities; the County does not receive any of the funds.  The second mortgage tax is a special additional tax and $.25 per $100 (1/4/ percent) is directly paid to fund the metropolitan transit authority.  The third possible mortgage tax is the additional mortgage tax in the amount of $.25 per $100 (1/4 percent) which is the proposal TCAT explored to help fund their budget last year.  When he looked into the range of income that came in, it was possible the County could have collected $1 million this year and it is anticipated that next year $900,000 is possible.  A review of a ten-year history was done and the average amount the County could have collected annually was between $550,000 and $650,000.  Mr. Whicher said if the County were to pursue this mortgage tax, the money would have to be specifically designated; it cannot be placed in the General Fund.  He feels that the funds should help offset the County's share of the TCAT budget.  Other counties have been successful in getting this legislation through and feels Tompkins County could as well.

 Mr. Proto suggested that all options for possible designated funding be presented for future discussions and cautioned the Committee with not spending money before it is received.  Mr. Penniman said he would also like to have this issue researched more and see what other counties have done.

 Ms. Blanchard reported TCAT is revisiting the issue of being a single organization as opposed to a partnership.  If this happens, over time the County's share will evaporate.  The County will then be contracting some level of transportation service.  When this was first looked into six years ago, a decision was made not to move forward as a single organization with the transit authority because it would have placed TCAT in the funding pool with some of the bigger authorities.  She suggested contacting other transit authority systems about their experiences with using the mortgage tax.

 Mr. Joseph spoke of his support for the County Administrator's comments that this is a tax the County can impose.  He feels the State will authorize it and that the tax should benefit the County and that the funding should be designated to transportation and roads.

 Following further discussion, the Committee agreed to have appropriate staff and Legislators explore this subject further and come back with a proposal.

Capital Program Budget

 Copies of the 2004-2008 Recommended Capital Schedule B  - County Administrator and Program Committee (9/30/03) were distributed to Committee members and reviewed by Mrs. Smithers.  Four versions (1, 1a, 2, 2a) were presented and also explained.  The differences between the versions are the Public Safety Communication Project, Public Safety Building Renovation Phase, and Aquifer Groundwater Models as well as financing options.

 Mr. Squires said by spreading the financing for the Public Safety Communication project over a number of years gives the flexibility needed should other opportunities arise.  A brief discussion followed concerning the depreciation of equipment and paying for it beyond its expected life.  As there are many theories, one theory is to have the taxpayers currently benefiting from the equipment pay for it.

 Mr. Booth commented that he does not believe pushing the payments forward to 2005 is the answer and that version one is the approach the Legislature should consider.  Mr. Penniman said he agrees with Mr. Booth's comments.

 Discussion followed concerning the proposed Public Safety Communication Project and it was stated that the Communications Capital Projects Committee will be discussing this project at their next meeting.

 It was MOVED by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Ms. Schuler, to recommend Version 2 of the Capital Program Budget as corrected by staff.  Mrs. Smithers asked that this motion be a recommendation to the Expanded Budget Committee with the understanding that updated numbers will be available at the time this budget is discussed.

 Mrs. Smithers provided a report to the Committee concerning a meeting she had with an insurance representative recently.  Insurance companies are losing their ability to get a good reinsurance rate when they insure old buildings and buildings that can have a higher than average risk associated with them.  She feels this could be an area of concern in the future.  Mr. Penniman asked that the Committee be kept informed on this issue.
A voice vote resulted as follows on the motion above:  Ayes - 3 (Penniman, Schuler, and Koplinka-Loehr); Noes - 1 (Booth); Excused - 1 (Todd).  MOTION CARRIED.

Adjournment

 The meeting adjourned at 1:27 p.m.