COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 8, 1997

1:00 P.M.

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

OTHERS: C.E.’s Office: Jamie Hastings-Director of IGR; Budget Dept.: Joe Phelan, Leslie Bennett, Tom Coleman; Risk Management: Tony Arena; DOT: Commissioner Petrocelli; LWV: Anne Nelson, Jo Brill; 360 Hamilton Avenue: Mark Weingarten; BOL: Legislator Carsky, Legislator Oros, Robert J. Boland-Budget Analyst, Glenn Guzi-Program Specialist, George Gretsas-Program Specialist, Gary Kriss-Director of Public Affairs, Tina Seckerson-Secretary to Committee

Co-Chairs Swanson and Wishnie called the meeting to order at 1:15 p.m.

On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve the Minutes of September 3, 1997 was carried by a vote of 6-0. (Legislator Abinanti out for vote)

• Mr. Phelan distributed a summary of the financial statement as of 12/31/96 for the General Fund.
• Mr. Phelan explained that the County will close its 1996 books with a $16.5 million surplus.
• Mrs. Swanson asked how many vacant lines there are. Mr. Phelan responded that for 1996 there were 275 vacant lines (excluding hospital) of which 150 were eliminated. There are currently 140 vacant lines for 1997 - which number is expected to grow as more people take advantage of early retirement.
• Mr. Phelan stated that the vacancies will jump tremendously in the later months of the year.
• Expenditure Account: According to Mr. Phelan the $2,402,235 surplus is made up of natural surpluses not used for Education & Transportation

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• Slight shortfall in Miscellaneous Budget ($686,311.65) because more money is going into the 6N fund.
• Sales Tax: able to collect $8 million more than put into the budget.
• Sales tax is 21% of total County revenue.
• WCMC: Increase in number of cases, decrease in length of stay; better case mix than was budgeted
• RTI did not make budget. They were unable to offset lower (88%) than anticipated (94%) occupancy level.
• RTI occupancy is climbing back up to 94% rate. Mr. Abinanti requested a breakdown of cases, case mix, etc. for RTI. Mr. Phelan will provide.
• Mrs. Swanson requested the occupancy rate from January through September for 1997 for RTI.

• Mr. Boland stated that the $1 million being put into the 6N fund still does not bring the total up to the actuary’s recommendation.
• Mr. Darcy asked why, in the Public Safety Department, we are paying out $137,000 in overtime when the Board put money in the budget for 5 officers to be hired. Mr. Coleman explained that these are 1996 numbers while the 5 officers were approved to be added in 1997.
• Mrs. Swanson stated that if the 3 officers were hired in 1996, as requested by the Board, we wouldn’t have the increase in the annual regular account.
• Weights & Measures: Increase in revenues was explained to be due to plumbing licenses. $716,000 was budgeted to be collected while $1,207,000 was actually collected. The Committee requested a breakdown of expenses and revenues for this item.
• The increase in overtime expenses in Fire Services was explained as being due to weather conditions requiring 24 hour shifts.
• Airport Project Transfer Resolutions: Any surplus from operations must be retained for Airport operations and not combined with the General Fund. The 1996 Airport profit was approximately $2.6 million which was allocated as follows: Cash to Capital $1,132,000; Reserved Fund Balance: $642,214; Roll Forwards: $719,436.
• The Committee approved 1997 Capital Budget Amendments of financing plans reflecting cash to capital of $1,090,000.

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20. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed act amending the 1996 County Operating Budget - Year-end Transfers. (8/18/97)

There are four parts to this legislation and action was taken as follows:

A. An Act amending the 1996 county Operating Budget in the amount of $10,088,621: On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-1 with Legislator Darcy being recorded in the negative.

B. An Act amending the 1996 Department of Transportation Airport Operations Operating Budget: On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Delfino, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.

C. An Act amending the 1997 County Capital Budget: On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.

D. Committee Transfer: Transfer requests from various County Operating Departments in the amount of $2,251,395. The Committee voted on these items line by line (detail is on file) as noted below:

• Budget (13): On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Delfino, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.
• Elections (141000): On motion of Legislator Delfino, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.
• General Services (16): On motion of Legislator Delfino, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.
• Acquisition & Contract: On motion of Legislator Delfino, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.
• County Clerk (21): On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Delfino, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-1 with Legislator Abinanti being recorded in the negative.
• Fire Services (231000): On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-1 with Legislator Darcy being recorded in the negative.
• Weights Measures, Consumer Protection (250200): On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Swanson signing "Without Prejudice".

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• Health (270010): On motion of Legislator Delfino, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.
• Public Safety (38): On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 5-2 with Legislators Darcy and Delfino being recorded in the negative.
• Public Works (46): On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Delfino, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.

*NOTE: Mr. Darcy stated, for the record, that his votes in opposition to the transfer requests made for the Departments of Public Safety and Fire Services are a direct result of the failure of the County Executive to fulfill his budgetary responsibilities in these areas.

21. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Act amending the 1996 Water District No. 1 Operating Budget. (8/18/97)

• The County Attorney’s Office has recommended this be paid and then the charges can be fought.
• The Committee requested a breakdown of the Annual Regular Account for DEF.

This legislation consists of two parts and action was taken as follows:

A. An Act amending the 1996 Water District No. 1 Operating Budget: On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.

B. Committee Transfer Resolution - a series of transfer requests from various County and Sewer and Water Districts in the amount of $682,217: On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislator Swanson signing "Without Prejudice".

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22. COUNTY EXECUTIVE: Proposed Act amending the 1996 Westchester County Medical Center Operating Budget. (8/18/97)

• Mr. Phelan explained that this is a payment of rental and taxes on the Bradhurst building.
• The Committee requested a listing of what is currently rented out and what is anticipated to be rented out.
• There was some discussion as to the fact that space at Bradhurst is being customized for doctor’s offices. Mrs. LaMotte reminded the Committee that this discussion has been ongoing for 2 years. She requested an update of what is going on at Bradhurst, including the number of leases.
• Mr. Abinanti made a motion to amend the legislation by striking out the amount of $407,515. There was no second to the motion.
• The Committee agreed to sign this legislation out on the basis of receiving a report on the Bradhurst building before the vote on September 15th. If the report is not received this item will be put "over" at that time.

This legislation consisted of two parts:

A. An Act amending the 1996 Westchester County Medical Center Operating Budget in the amount of $6,810,705: On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislators Swanson, Darcy and Abinanti signing "Without Prejudice".

B. Committee Transfer Resolution - series of transfer requests from WCMC in conformance with the certification of accounts by their auditors in the amount of $114,788: On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Darcy, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.

• There was a discussion as to whether the Committee wanted to sign this item out. Legislator Abinanti made a motion to sign the item out for the purpose of setting a public hearing only. There was no second to the motion.
• Chairman Oros reminded the Committee that a Committee of the Whole meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 10th and suggested they wait until after that meeting before taking any action on this item.

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Mrs. LaMotte suggested the Committee recess until after the COW on Wednesday.

The Committee was in agreement, therefore the Co-chairs recessed the meeting at 4:00 p.m. to the call of the Chair.

Co-chairs Swanson and Wishnie reconvened the meeting on Wednesday, September 10, 1997 at 4:15 p.m.

There was a discussion on the issue of signing out the 360 Hamilton Avenue lease for a public hearing only. On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Young the motion to sign this item out was carried by a vote of 4-3 with Legislators Darcy, Swanson, and Delfino being recorded in the negative.

There was a lengthy discussion with regard to a resolution requesting the county Executive submit legislation to the Board authorizing the County to contract with the New York State Dormitory Authority to perform such technical and financial services as the County acting through the joint action of the Board of Legislators and the County Executive deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, the renovation of the tower building and construction of an annex, of a maximum of 165,000 square feet to house the Criminal Courts and other Court facilities, and that the repair and restoration work on the outside of the Courthouse Tower begin as soon as practicably possible.

On motion of Legislator Darcy, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 5-1 with Legislator Abinanti being recorded in the negative and Legislator Delfino out for the vote.

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Darcy, the meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m.