Chair Mink called the public hearing to order at 7 p.m. concerning proposed 2002 Tompkins County Budget and the 2002-2006 Capital Program.

Present: 13 Representatives. Representatives Proto and Stein arrived at 7:19 p.m.

Chair Mink asked if anyone wished to speak.

Rose Bethe, Cayuga Heights resident, said she has lived in Ithaca for 62 years. She asked the Board not to cut the Tompkins County Library's budget. She said the Library is beautiful and has drawn many more people since the new building was constructed. She said staffing is an important issue at a library, and that if there is not adequate staffing books will not get returned to the shelf in a timely manner.

Gale Smith, Chair of the Tompkins County Youth Board, said the Youth Bureau is facing $134,737 in combined State and County funding cuts in 2002. In addition, municipalities that match state and county funds may cut their local matching dollars, resulting in possible triple cuts for them. Mr. Smith said he represents the volunteers who serve on the Youth Board, as well as the twelve agencies and 16 municipalities that receive funding through the Tompkins County Youth Bureau. On their behalf, he asked the Board to restore the $20,000 cut made to the Youth Bureau's budget on October 26. He said the Youth Board understands the County's difficult fiscal situation and if this were the only cut the Youth Bureau were facing they would probably not be here this evening. He said it is important that the Board and the public understands the severe cuts the Youth Bureau is facing by both the state and County.

Jerry Sirine, a representative of the Tompkins County Corrections Association and Corrections Sergeant at the Tompkins County Public Safety Building, spoke concerning the $58,000 over-target reduction the Sheriff's Office is facing in the 2002 budget. He said this reduction creates serious staffing issues from a manpower and overtime standpoint. On behalf of the Association, Mr. Sirine asked the Board to take another look at the cut that results in the loss of two officer positions at a time when there are already too many overtime hours and a high likelihood that prisoners will be boarded out. This will not only result in increased costs for boarding, but increased costs for officers to transport those prisoners also.

Emily Metz, Ithaca resident, urged the Board to restore funding to the Tompkins County Public Library. She said it is very important for children to be introduced to the public library system at a very early age.

Barbara Berry, Lansing resident and member of the Tompkins County Youth Board, spoke of the budget cuts the Youth Bureau is facing. Ms. Berry said the Tompkins County Youth Bureau has eliminated two positions and has reduced its administrative spending by ten percent. She stated they have done this at the same time the Department has had to incorporate pay raises which are mandated by the County. Ms. Berry stated that Youth Bureau funding to eight programs serving 2,562 youth in Tompkins County has been eliminated and 14 programs will receive reductions in funding of three to thirteen percent as a result of the 2002 budget. Ms. Berry stated the final cut of $20,000 has resulted in $8,700 being cut from rural programs. She said the Youth Bureau has set up a very good system of evaluation and monitoring of programs. This system assesses all of the programs based on the number of children who are served, area served, diversity of the population, ages of the children, and whether the programs are meeting the identified goals. She urged the Board to reinstate as much of the Youth Bureau's budget as possible.

Roy Dexheimer, Tompkins County resident and Acting Superintendent of South Seneca Central School, said public libraries are the soul of a community. He said the County Board has said there are many agencies who may have to become more actively involved in raising private dollars. He argued that the Tompkins County Public Library has done that in large measure over the years through both the Friends of the Library and now the Library Foundation. He said there is no more democratic institution than the Public Library; it is open to everyone in both good and bad times to serve the people of this community. He said putting together a budget is a very difficult job and asked the Board to keep statements made this evening in mind when adopting the budget.

Bill Lesser, Town of Ithaca resident and Town Board member, urged the Board to consider restoring some of the additional funding that was requested by the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office for the protection of public health and safety. Mr. Lesser said the Sheriff has requested $60,000 in extra funding that has not been granted. He said the Sheriff has stated the current funding level is insufficient to provide the level of protection that he feels it is appropriate and necessary for Tompkins County and that there is evidence that supports the Sheriff' judgement. Mr. Lesser referred to incidents around the County that show there is a need for greater traffic enforcement. He said when there are insufficient funds to patrol County roads appropriately and stop violators, this pattern will only get worse.

Chair Mink thanked everyone for attending and speaking to the Board on the 2002 Tompkins County budget.

Adjournment

On motion the meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.