Tompkins County Legislature
Regular Meeting
November 21, 2006
Legislature Chambers
Mr.
Joseph called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Members
and guests participated in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag,
Present: 15 Legislators.
Nancy
Zahler, Director of Youth Services, spoke to a proposal that will be brought
forward later in this meeting to reduce the Youth Services budget for municipal
youth services by $70,000.
This program is one that intervenes very early in the lives of young
people at a very reasonable cost.
She shared a letter from a parent from the Town of Groton whose children
have benefited from the program and urged the Legislature to not support the
funding reduction to this program.
Stephen
Nicholson, Chair of the Environmental Management Council (EMC), spoke in regard
to rescission of the City leash law on Festival Lands. He said the EMC was startled and
disappointed to learn that no environmental review has been done concerning the
rescission of the City’s dog-leash law, specifically for the Festival Lands, to
be effective December 1st.
Mr. Nicholson said State Law requires a State Environmental Quality
Review and is requesting that the Board of Public Works insist on a properly
executed SEQR review before it attempts to promulgate rules and regulations to
implement the City’s new change in its Leash Law. The Office of State Parks has also sent a letter to
the Mayor requesting a SEQR review. Mr. Nicholson said the adoption of this law will
result in many dogs venturing into the special areas that needs special
protection.
Presentation
of Distinguished Youth Award
Ms.
Robertson, District No. 14 Legislator, presented the November Distinguished
Youth Award to the following individuals who participate in the Aggression
Replacement Training Art (ART) for the Bridges for Youth and Families Program:
Shawn
Carroll – Ithaca
Corey
Bruneau - Lansing
Anthony
Nielsen – Dryden
JJ
Hefferon – Newfield
Brooke Sepos – Newfield
Nichole Mack – Lansing
Keiley Reeves – Lansing
The group was nominated by Trudy Pantalia, Program Manager,
for “being forerunners in aggression replacement in Tompkins County. Their bravery in group is well-matched
by the changes in their behavior which have been reported back to us by family
members and referral sources.
Community members are seeing first-hand the group members’ innovation in
applying the skills they are discovering in ART to everyday life, thus
impacting not only their own lives but also the lives of those around them”.
Mr.
Joseph, District No. 12 Legislator, said at the last meeting there were several
individuals who spoke of the racial implications of a letter written by Barbara
Lifton in support of Peter Meskill.
He said much of the discussion was framed as a Democratic Party
issue. He has reflected on that
discussion and it occurs to him that the issue is both narrower and broader
than a Democratic Party. It’s narrower because it wasn’t the Democratic Party
that sent the letter; it was one campaign that only a few people were aware
of. It is broader because although
there may be only a few people involved, the actions reflect attitudes and
stereotypes that are widespread in the larger society. If we didn’t have the background of
racism that already exists the individual actions wouldn’t be something that
would be thought of. He,
therefore, sees this as one aspect of racism and racial attitudes that exist in
our community and feels it is his responsibility as community, government, and
party leader, to confront and deal with these kinds of things. He said racism needs to be dealt with
to make it something that is unthinkable.
Mr.
Koplinka-Loehr, District No. 11 Legislator, spoke regarding the comments made
at the last Legislature meeting and said he would like to take a lead
personally in dismantling racism in the community and throughout government and
the democratic party.
Mrs.
McBean-Clairborne, District No. 2 Legislator, thanked those who attended the
GIAC (Greater Ithaca Activities Center) Harvest Festival. She said the community enjoys
fellowship with community leaders.
Mr. Dennis, District No. 15 Legislator, said he
heard from former Legislator Peter Penniman, who recently underwent major
surgery. Mr. Penniman is
doing well and is looking forward to returning to doing the things he enjoys.
Chair’s
Report and Appointment(s)
Mr.
Joseph reported on the Ithaca-Tompkins Regional Airport and said he received
notification from the Federal government that they will not be living up to
their contract to pay for the security services at the Airport which is a
mandated service, specifically the escalator clause. They will continue the requirement in the future to have
Airports provide security, but it appears this is moving in the direction of
the Federal government not providing any funding. Mr. Shinagawa noted these costs are in the hundreds of
thousands of dollars and can be devastating for small, enterprise airports.
Mr.
Joseph said all of the resolutions that were adopted at the NYSAC (New York
State Association of Counties) conference are available in the Clerk of the
Legislature’s Office.
He
also reported he is in receipt of a another letter from Nassau County regarding
the possible adoption of a regional cigarette tax. The letter states that their representative to
the NYSAC Committee on Taxation and Finance says that NYSAC is interested in
promoting that and will have a resolution at the January meeting supporting an
optional $1.50/pack tax on cigarettes for local government.
Mr. Proto said in the news in the last several days
it was announced that US Air is in the process of trying to negotiate a
takeover with Delta. Although
Ithaca was not mentioned, it involved giving up gate assignments to Southwest
Air. He asked if anyone had
updated information on how a potential merger of these two airlines might
effect the local Airport. Mr.
Sigler said Delta rejected the deal this morning. Mr. Shinagawa commented that the Ithaca-Tompkins Regional
Airport has remained strong with very good load factors.
Report
from County Administration
Ms.
Martel-Moore, Deputy County Administrator, had no report.
Mr.
Wood had no report.
Mr. Squires had no report.
Addition
of Resolution(s) to the Agenda
It
was MOVED by Ms. Robertson, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, to add the resolution
entitled Resolution on the City Leash Law Rescission for the Festival Lands to
the agenda. A voice vote resulted
as follows: Ayes - 10; Noes – 5
(Legislators Booth, Hattery, Proto, Sigler, and Randall). MOTION CARRIED.
It
was MOVED by Mr. Hattery, seconded by Mr. Booth, and unanimously adopted by
voice vote, to add the resolution entitled Amendment to 2007 Tentative Budget –
Multiple Reductions to the agenda.
Withdrawal
of Resolution(s) from the Agenda
Chair
Joseph gave the appropriate committee chairs permission to withdraw the
following resolution(s):
Budget
Transfers - Board of Elections
Authorizing the
County Administrator to Grant an Easement to the City of Ithaca to
Construct and Maintain a
Water Main
Adoption
of Bylaws – Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Additional
Resolution(s) were withdrawn at the end of the meeting.
Approval
of Resolution(s) and Appointment(s) Under the Consent Agenda
It
was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mrs. McBean-Clairborne, and unanimously
adopted by voice vote, to approve the following resolution(s) under the Consent
Agenda.
WHEREAS,
it is necessary annually to provide for property tax collection in Tompkins
County to meet expenses and the cost of county governments in Tompkins County,
and to direct that upon the tax rolls of the several towns and City, the
several taxes will be extended, now therefore be it
RESOLVED,
on recommendation of the Budget and Capital Committee, That the tax rolls be
approved as completed and that there shall be extended and carried out upon the
roll the amount to be levied against each parcel of real property shown
thereon,
RESOLVED,
further, That there be annexed to each of said rolls a tax warrant prepared by
the Director of Assessment as provided for in Section 4.00(b) of the Tompkins
County Charter, that such warrants shall be the respective amounts theretofore
authorized to be levied upon each of said rolls, that the several warrants be
signed by the Chair and the Clerk of the Legislature under seal of the
Legislature
and by
the Director of Assessment, and that said rolls with said warrants annexed are
to be forthwith delivered to the respective collectors of the several districts
of the County.
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RESOLUTION NO. 198 - IN
SUPPORT OF A SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM FOR TOMPKINS COUNTY GOVERNMENT
MOVED
by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mrs. McBean-Clairborne, and unanimously adopted by
voice vote under the Consent Agenda.
WHEREAS, sustainability is
often defined as meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their needs, and
WHEREAS, Tompkins County
should promote sustainable practices including social, environmental, and
economic stewardship to benefit future generations and to inspire other
municipalities, public and private entities, and residents, and
WHEREAS, individuals from
several County departments and Cooperative Extension’s Energy Smart Program
have identified the need to develop a program to promote sustainable practices
by Tompkins County government, and
WHEREAS, this group,
referred to as the Sustainability Team, has defined sustainable practices as
including:
, and
WHEREAS, several initiatives
and significant actions have been and continue to be underway in these areas
through implementation of the Local Action Plan to Reduce Greenhouse Gas
Emissions for County Government Operations (2003), the Tompkins County
Comprehensive Plan (2004), and the 20-Year Comprehensive Solid Waste
Management Plan (1993), all of which have been adopted by the Tompkins
County Legislature, and
WHEREAS,
it is recognized that further development and implementation of these and
additional sustainability practices will require involvement, participation,
and endorsement at all levels of the County organization, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation
of the Government Operations Committee, That a Tompkins County Sustainability
Team be appointed by the County Administrator,
RESOLVED, further, That the
charge to the Sustainability Team is to develop an action plan to promote
sustainable practices by Tompkins County government,
RESOLVED, further, That the Sustainability Team shall
report progress on the sustainability plan to the Legislature annually by Earth
Day.
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MOVED
by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mrs. McBean-Clairborne, and unanimously adopted by
voice vote under the Consent Agenda.
WHEREAS
Article 13 of the Real Property Tax Law authorizes school district tax
collectors to submit by November 15th a listing of unpaid taxes to
the County Treasurer for enforcement, and
WHEREAS
the County guarantees the school districts payment of the unpaid taxes by April
1 of the year following the return, now therefore be it
RESOLVED,
on recommendation of the Government Operations Committee, That the Director of
Assessment of the County be and hereby is authorized and directed to add to the
respective 2007 tax rolls the amount of the uncollected school taxes that
remain unpaid and that have not been heretofore relevied on town tax rolls and
that have been returned by the collectors of the various districts, exclusive
of the Ithaca City School District, to the County Finance Director, and that
said returned school taxes be reassessed and relevied on town tax rolls as they
are returned, and that said school taxes returned in 2006 be reassessed and
relevied upon the lots and parcels so returned with 12.0 percent annual
interest in addition thereto.
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RESOLUTION NO. 200 - RETURNED VILLAGE TAXES
MOVED
by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mrs. McBean-Clairborne, and unanimously adopted by
voice vote under the Consent Agenda.
WHEREAS
Article 14 of the Real Property Tax Law authorizes village tax collectors to
return to the County Treasurer a listing of unpaid taxes for enforcement, and
WHEREAS
the Villages of Cayuga Heights, Dryden, Freeville, Groton, Lansing, and
Trumansburg are authorized to submit their unpaid taxes to the County for
enforcement, now therefore be it
RESOLVED,
on recommendation of the Government Operations Committee, That the Director of
Assessment of the County be and hereby is authorized and directed to add to the
respective 2007 tax rolls the amount of the uncollected village taxes that
remain unpaid and that have not been heretofore relevied on town tax rolls and
that have been returned by the village tax collectors of the various villages
to the County Finance Director, and that said returned village taxes be
reassessed and relevied on town tax rolls as they are returned, and that said
returned village taxes be reassessed and relevied upon the lots and parcels so
returned with 12.0 percent annual interest in addition thereto.
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RESOLUTION NO. 201 - ADOPTION OF APPORTIONMENT OF
TAXES FOR 2007
MOVED
by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mrs. McBean-Clairborne, and unanimously adopted by
voice vote under the Consent Agenda.
WHEREAS,
the report of equalization rates and totals (footings) of assessment rolls has
been prepared and approved by the Assessment Director, now therefore be it
RESOLVED,
on recommendation of the Government Operations Committee, That the report of
the Director of Assessment be accepted and adopted, and the valuation of real
property and franchise be based on the 2007 final assessed values for the
purposes of general tax levied against the several tax districts of the County
and that the values determined therein be set forth as the basis for such
general and highway tax levies for the year 2007,
RESOLVED, further, That the
several amounts therein listed for State tax and County tax for general County
purposes for 2006 be assessed against, levied upon, and collected from taxable
property of the several towns and City liable therefore.
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RESOLUTION
NO. 202 - CORRECTION OF ERRORS
MOVED
by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mrs. McBean-Clairborne, and unanimously adopted by
voice vote under the Consent Agenda.
WHEREAS,
it is important that official minutes and reports be accurately written, now
therefore be it
RESOLVED,
on recommendation of the Government Operations Committee, That the Clerk of the
Legislature be and hereby is authorized to correct any manifest errors in the
2007 minutes of the Legislature or in reports of any committees.
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DESOLUTION NO. 203 - DESIGNATION OF NEWSPAPER
MOVED
by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mrs. McBean-Clairborne, and unanimously adopted by
voice vote under the Consent Agenda.
WHEREAS,
the Tompkins County Legislature must annually designate an official newspaper,
now therefore be it
RESOLVED,
on recommendation of the Government Operations Committee, That the official
newspaper for the County of Tompkins for the publication of all local laws,
notices and other matters required by law to be published pursuant to County
Law, Article 5, Section 214, Subdivision (2), and Local Law No. 1 of 1992 be
designated from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2007, as follows:
The Ithaca Journal, Ithaca,
New York
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RESOLUTION NO. 204 - DATE OF ORGANIZATION MEETING
MOVED
by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mrs. McBean-Clairborne, and unanimously adopted by
voice vote under the Consent Agenda.
RESOLVED,
on recommendation of the Government Operations Committee, That in accordance
with Section 151 of County Law, the organization meeting of the Tompkins County
Legislature shall be held in the Legislative Chambers of the Tompkins County
Courthouse, Ithaca, New York on Tuesday, January 2, 2007, at 5:30 o’clock in
the evening thereof.
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RESOLUTION
NO. 205 - APPROVAL OF CONTRACT
FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
STABILIZATION - COMMUNITY ARTS PARTNERSHIP
MOVED
by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mrs. McBean-Clairborne, and unanimously adopted by
voice vote under the Consent Agenda.
WHEREAS, Community Arts
Partnership (CAP) recognizes that the local arts and cultural community is a
valuable and unique asset, and that a need exists to harness the power of the
arts to develop tourism growth, and if strategically managed, that would
stabilize and develop these assets to better serve tourists through well-planned
marketing efforts, and
WHEREAS,
CAP was appointed to create a comprehensive arts marketing plan and develop and
implement a plan for financial and operational stabilization of arts and
cultural entities, and
WHEREAS, the arts and
cultural community could better position itself in the marketplace to attract
more visitors to and enhance visitors’ stay in Tompkins County, thus generating
more dollars into the local economy, and
WHEREAS, funding exists
within the Room Tax Occupancy budget for the Arts and Cultural Stabilization
Plan program, and
WHEREAS, the Stabilization,
Planning, and Development grant requests of the Arts and Cultural Stabilization
Plan for $197,098 have been reviewed and recommended by the Strategic Tourism
Planning Board, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, on recommendation
of the Planning, Development, and Environmental Quality Committee and pending
approval of the 2007 County Budget, That $197,098 be appropriated from the Room
Occupancy Tax Fund as budgeted for 2007 for the Arts and Cultural Stabilization
Grants, and CAP shall then disburse grants as follows:
2004
Amount 2005
2006 2007
Hangar Theatre $
30,000 $
30,000 $
30,000 $
32,500
Cayuga Chamber Orchestra $
20,000 $ 25,000 $ 20,000 $
22,000
Kitchen Theatre $
25,000 $
25,000
$
35,000 $
39,680
The History Center $
20,000 $
30,000
$
23,000
$
30,000
PRI/Museum of the Earth $ 20,000 $
25,000
Historic Ithaca (State
Theatre) $
30,000 $
30,000 $
30,000 $
30,000
Grants Total $125,000 $140,000 $158,000 $179,180
RESOLVED, further, That of the total 2006 program funds, $30,000 be
paid to Historic Ithaca (State Theatre) for the purpose of the Arts and
Cultural Stabilization Plan program,
RESOLVED, further, That of the total 2007 program amount of $197,098,
$17,918 (10 percent of program expenditures) shall be paid to CAP for
administrative evaluation and oversight services,
RESOLVED, further, That the
County Administrator or his designee is authorized to sign any agreements with
CAP pertaining to this program for $30,000 for 2006, plus $197,098 using 2007
funds ($179,180 for grants and $17,918 for program administration).
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Approval
of Appointment(s) Under the Consent Agenda
It
was MOVED by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mrs. McBean-Clairborne, and unanimously
adopted by voice vote, to approve the following appointment( s) under the
Consent Agenda.
Charles
W. Broadhead – At-large representative
Environmental
Management Council
Term
begins January 1, 2007 and expiring December 31, 2008
H.
Roger Segelken – Village of Cayuga Heights representative
Term
begins January 1, 2007 and expiring December 31, 2009
Kathy Luz Herrera – labor representative
Kathy Luz Herrera – no set term
RESOLUTION
NO. 206 - REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO EXTEND THE
ADDITIONAL ONE
PERCENT LOCAL SALES TAX RATE IN
TOMPKINS COUNTY
MOVED
by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Mr. Shinagawa. Mr. Proto spoke of what precipitated the need for the
longevity of the one percent sales tax and said there is disagreement amongst
some legislators about this. He
stated back in the 1990’s the County’s Fund Balance was below zero and in
danger of going lower; he recalls the Board decided to institute an additional
one percent sales tax for one year or until the Fund Balance was restored and
then it would be dropped. Like so
many taxes, including the Transfer Tax, he doesn’t think they will be
dropped.
Mr.
Joseph said he recalls that when the tax was first implemented there were a
number of representatives who said
they would only support it for one year but doesn’t think that represented the
opinion of the entire Board.
Mr. Squires said this
additional one percent sales tax represents $9.2 million.
Mr.
Booth said both the sales and property taxes are regressive; however, it is his
personal choice to raise income from the sales tax because it is related to a
person’s ability to pay, since it is a purchase decision.
Ms.
Robertson agreed with Mr. Booth and stated that students who live in tax-exempt
housing do not pay property tax but do pay sales tax.
A
voice vote resulted as follows:
Ayes – 12, Noes – 3 (Legislators Proto, Randall, and Sigler). RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
WHEREAS,
this Legislature in 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, and 2005
requested and received authorization from the State of New York to enact an
additional one percent local sales tax in Tompkins County in addition to the
three percent authorization that all New York State counties possess by law,
and
WHEREAS,
the current authorization received in 2005 expires November 30, 2007, and
WHEREAS,
this Legislature has been requested by the offices of Assemblyperson Lifton and
Senator Seward to forward any request for an extension of this authority when
legislation can be timely prepared and submitted at the beginning of a session
of the legislature, and
WHEREAS,
the expiration of the additional one percent local sales tax would necessitate,
(1) $9,200,000 in reductions in County expenditures, creating a major impact on
the availability of services, or a 27 percent increase in County property tax
rates, or some combination thereof, as well as (2) substantial spending
reductions or tax increases for the City, towns, and villages of Tompkins
County, now therefore be it
RESOLVED,
on recommendation of the Budget and Capital Committee, That this Legislature
requests that Assemblyperson Lifton, Senator Seward, Senator Nozzolio, and
Senator Winner sponsor and support legislation extending the authority of the
Tompkins County Legislature to extend the additional one percent local sales
tax in Tompkins County beyond November 30, 2007, based on the same terms and
conditions included in previous legislation, to provide local property tax
relief.
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RESOLUTION
NO. 207 - ADOPTION OF 2007 TOMPKINS COUNTY BUDGET AND
2007-2011 TOMPKINS COUNTY CAPITAL PROGRAM
MOVED
by Mr. Koplinka-Loehr, seconded by Ms. Mackesey.
It was MOVED by Ms. Kiefer, seconded by Mr. Proto,
to approve the following amendment.
A voice vote resulted as follows:
Ayes – 9 (Legislators Dennis, Herrera, Joseph, Kiefer, Koplinka-Loehr,
Mackesey, McBean-Clairborne, Robertson, and Shinagawa); Noes – 6 (Legislators Booth, Hattery, Herrera,
Randall, Sigler, and Stevenson).
AMENDMENT APPROVED.
WHEREAS, staffing in the Finance Department is at
its lowest level in 18 years, and
WHEREAS, to avert a reduction in staff hours and
avoid exposure to liability that would occur if mandated State and Federal
filing deadlines were missed, now therefore be it
RESOLVED, That $8,000 in target funding be restored
by reversing LDR 221,
RESOLVED, further, That this be offset for 2007 by
returning Rollover funds in the amount of $8,000.
* * * * * * * * * *
It was
MOVED by Mr. Hattery, seconded by Mr. Booth, to approve the following
amendment. Mr. Hattery said he is
proposing this amendment because he thinks the budget as it stands is too far
away from the target that was set many months ago and the growth in
non-mandated spending is nine percent. He said in balancing the need to provide
services and the need to maintain a reasonable halt to the growth in the tax
burden he has put together a reduction package that would reduce the tax rate
by approximately one percent.
Mr.
Booth said he would not support these items individually but believes as a
package of items this amendment moves in the right direction and represents a
reasonable package.
Ms.
Robertson disagreed and said she does not feel this represents a reasonable
package as three of the departments listed are some of the County’s smallest
departments. She said highway
materials is one of the largest and only seeing a slight reduction in its
increase. She also said Jail boardouts is a mandated expense and the County
will be required to pay, whatever the cost.
Ms.
Mackesey said she cannot support this amendment. She finds it troublesome to have put departments and
agencies through the budget process and although the end result wasn’t
satisfactory to everyone she feels it is demoralizing to the people doing the
hard work to have this reappear at this time. She doesn’t think it is good policy to lay off
employees if it is at all possible to prevent. She is not prepared to eliminate positions without making
every effort to eliminate vacant positions first.
Mrs.
McBean-Clairborne said that while she appreciates the work that went into
examining ways to make reductions, she cannot support this package as
presented.
Mr.
Shinagawa said he cannot support this proposal because he feels most of the
items in this resolution have already been discussed with the exception of the
Planning Department positions and a conclusion was reached. He feels the Planning Department has
already endured significant cuts recently; therefore, he cannot support that
reduction.
Mr.
Dennis said there are only portions of this proposal he could support but
cannot support the entire package.
Mr.
Stevenson said he will support this amendment because he is constantly reminded
about his constituents concerns over the tax rate and the amount of money that
is spent.
A voice vote resulted as
follows: Ayes – 5 (Legislators
Booth, Hattery, Proto, Sigler and Stevenson); Noes – 10. MOTION FAILED.
RESOLVED, That
target funding be reduced from three Senior Planner positions to two
(8020.51000609) in the amount of $49,357 and associated fringe (8020.58800) in
the amount of $19,249 in the Planning Department and replaced with $35,000
one-time transition funding,
RESOLVED, further, That target funding for Professional Services (7026.54400)
be reduced for the Youth Services Department by $71,000 from $368,020 to
$297,020,
RESOLVED, further, That permanent funding in the Contingent Fund (1990.54400)
for jail board-outs be reduced by $75,000,
RESOLVED, further, That target funding for Highway Materials (5110.54312) be
permanently reduced by $75,000,
RESOLVED, further, That the Paralegal Aid position in the Human Rights
Department is returned to .5 FTE and reduce the target by $23,409 ($16,841 –
Salary account no. 8040.51000619 and $6,568 - Associated Fringe account no.
8040.58800).
* * * * * * * * * *
AMENDMENT
TO 2007 TENTATIVE BUDGET – OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAM - HEALTH
DEPARTMENT
It was MOVED by Mr. Proto,
seconded by Mrs. McBean-Clairborne, and unanimously adopted by voice vote to
approve the following amendment.
RESOLVED, That $15,997 be
reduced in 9040-Workers Compensation, and be offset by an equal fund balance
appropriation as one-time funding.
* * * * * * * * * *
It was MOVED by Mr. Proto, seconded by Mr.
Koplinka-Loehr, to increase the Contingent Fund by $475,000 to come out of the
Fund Balance. Mr. Proto
explained both the Children with Special Care Needs and Early Intervention
Programs come out of the Health Department. Because the State has changed the reimbursement rate for
tuition there is a shortfall for 2006.
This shortfall goes back to 2003 and amounts to approximately $1.2
million. Ms. Cole, Public Health
Director, explained that it takes the State a few years to go back and
reconcile rates.
Mr. Proto said he has met with Mr. Joseph, Mr.
Whicher, Mr. Squires, and Mr. Koplinka-Loehr about this. A decision has been made to form a
small committee to address this.
At the present time enough information is not available; however, he
noted all counties in New York State are facing this problem. The amount proposed in this
amendment represents what Health Department staff feel will impact the 2007
budget.
Mr.
Booth asked for clarification as to what budget year this amendment
addresses. Mr. Proto responded
that this amendment addresses only the 2007 budget and that staff may need to
request an adjustment of funds for 2006.
That information is not available at this time. Mr. Booth questioned whether it would
be wise to adopt a budget without having this information because this could
represent a significant impact on the current budget.
Mr.
Joseph said he had warmed that if PushBack, which was the local part of a
Statewide effort to get Medicaid costs under control and to force the State to
take responsibility for its own actions, won on Medicaid, New York State could
come back with something else. In
all the meetings that took place one thing that was repeated was that this
isn’t just about Medicaid but is about all funded mandates. Mr. Joseph said this needs to be
fought at the State level and the State needs to take responsibility for its
actions.
Mr. Dennis agreed that a message needs to be sent to
the State.
Ms. Allinger of the Health Department stated NYSAC
is very involved in this issue.
She also said these services are not reimbursable through insurance.
Mr.
Koplinka-Loehr said he seconded this motion because these funds will be placed
as a buffer in the Contingent Fund and a vote to appropriate those funds will
be required at a later date.
Mr.
Booth disclosed that his wife is employed by the Franciska Racker Center.