COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES - NOVEMBER 10, 1997

1:00 P.M.

B&A MEMBERS: Wishnie, Swanson, Young, LaMotte, Darcy, Abinanti

OTHERS: C.E.’s Office: Gina Angiulo-IGR; Office of Advocacy: Cynthia Walquist; Budget Dept: Joe Phelan, Tom Coleman; Finance Dept: Commissioner Langeloh, Thurston Hartford; CBAC: George Hosey, Barbara Strauss; LWV: Anne Nelson; BOL: Legislator Carsky, Pat Gorski-Clerk, Robert J. Boland-Budget Analyst, Tina Seckerson- Secretary to Committee

Co-Chairs Swanson and Wishnie called the meeting to order at 1:20 p.m.

On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve the Minutes of October 27, 1997 was carried by a vote of 6-0.

5. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Act authorizing the County to amend one IMA agreement in order to increase the 1997 contract provisions of services under the "Invest-In-Kids" Urban Youth Initiative program. (10/20/97) (Also referred to CA)

• This Act would amend one IMA (City of Mt. Vernon Recreation Department) under Act 96-1997 to increase the 1997 contract budget from $38,500 to $42,000.
• The additional funds represent unspent funds from the original FY96 allocation of $700,000 and will be used to enhance existing programs.
• Mrs. Swanson stated that last year the BOL made additions to the Invest-in-Kids Programs and asked if all of the money has been appropriated. Ms. Walquist stated that it has been.
• RFP’s went out in February, awards were made in April.

On motion of Legislator Darcy, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES - NOVEMBER 10, 1997

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12.* COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Act authorizing the County to amend one IMA in order to increase the 1997 contract provisions of services under the "Invest-In-Kids" Urban Youth Initiative Program. (11/3/97)

• This Act would amend one IMA (City of White Plains Youth Bureau) under Act 96-1997 to increase the 1997 contract budget from $38,500 to $42,000.
• The additional funds represent unspent funds from the original FY96 allocation of $700,000 and will be used to enhance existing programs.

On motion of Legislator Darcy, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0.

13.* COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Act authorizing the Commissioner of Finance to pay the mortgage tax receipts. (11/3/97)

On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Darcy, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of

• Mr. Phelan began by stating that the 3rd Quarter Projections are viewed as a management report to highlight any potential problems.
• Dept of Correction: Increase in revenue over budget; +$5 million due to federal inmate program.
• Mr. Abinanti requested an analysis of the occupancy of the jail. Mr. Boland stated that previously we received a breakdown for the first six months and the average is 161 federal prisoners per month. Mr. Phelan explained that this number fluctuates.
• Mr. Phelan explained that the Department of Correction, for 1997, has a $46 million gross salary account. $4.7 million was budgeted for overtime but $10 million will be spent. In 1995 $5 million was spent on OT.
• The Committee asked if more people need to be hired rather than spend that amount of money on OT. Mr. Phelan stated if you hire people to knock down the OT expenditures you will be adding on permanent salary expenditures.
• Mr. Darcy stated that it is important to see how many OT shifts there are for the year, excluding the federal prisoner program. If the number is consistently high then perhaps the answer is to hire more people rather than continue to pay OT.
• Mr. Wishnie stated that it is also necessary to know how much of the OT is attributable to OT.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES - NOVEMBER 10, 1997

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• DSS: Appropriated $337,117,850; Project spending $324,360,500; leaving a variance of $12,757,350
• Miscellaneous Budget: Potential shortfall of $1.5 million

The Committee recessed from 2:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.

• Health Department: The Committee asked if the employees added into the 1997 Budget were ever hired. Committee requested a breakdown of Health Department and Public Safety Services. Mr. Phelan will provide.
• WCMC: Total departmental revenue projection at this time is $311.7 million
• WCMC: Cases right on target: 20,637

Case Mix-Non Medicare: +.05

Medicare: +.08

Length of stay is down: .5

Occupancy is down: 3.9%

• Commissioner Langeloh began by stating that after the first nine months of 1997, on the revenue side, on a cash basis, the total revenues are up about 2.2%.
• The Commissioner explained that the federal and state aid components have to be added together. We are $19 million in the hole on the feds side but $16 million to the good on the state side. The difference between those two after nine months is a 3% negative variance. The brunt of state aid is DSS and Health (i.e. education and transportation, welfare reimbursement)
• Medicaid Reimbursement: The timing of when the 75% share of state and federal aid for Medicaid costs is taken, is the factor that causes so much fluctuation in the federal numbers. The Commissioner explained that the MMIS shares over the course of the next few months may go in such a cycle that the $19 million negative number comes down. He further stated that it will not go away entirely as we are spending less ($10 million) in relief and when you are spending less you get less in reimbursement.

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Darcy, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m.