COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

NOVEMBER 23, 1998

ATTENDANCE:

Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 9:42 a.m.

DISCUSSION: (There is a cassette tape on file for more detailed information)

• Ms. Tooher gave a brief overview of the Miscellaneous Budget stating that it provides for the funding for specific services and programs not directly related to the operations of a particular department.

• Funding for Hudson River Museum (2015) rolled into funding for Arts in Westchester (2010) (a catch-all account, not to be confused with the Council for the Arts). Rolling the funds into the Arts in Westchester puts all of the arts organizations on equal footing. Several Committee members expressed concern with regard to this and felt that the Hudson River Museum should remain on its own line.

• Committee requested a schedule of payments to arts organizations other than the Miscellaneous Budget.
• County Publicity and Promotion (2035): There are no people in here and the appropriation is cut in half. It is for county-wide promotions and they is why it is not in the County Executive’s Budget. Used for various county-wide events. Committee requested a breakdown of the 1998 allocation as well as the $90,000 1999 allocation.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES – NOVEMBER 23, 1998

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• Tourism (2135): 15% of estimated tax receipts that needs to be appropriated every year. The administrative fee ($130,000) is a credit to the Finance Department for monitoring. The money is set aside by placing it into a Tourism Trust account in the County Executive’s budget. Mr. Boland stated that it should be a part of the operating budget rather than a trust account. Ms. Tooher will provide a listing of everything funded out of the Tourism Account for the last 2 years. Historical River Towns of Westchester (2175) will be included in this account this year.

• Public Utility Service Agency (2110): This funding is to represent the County’s interest in deregulation. Pays for an expert who acts as the County’s advocate in Washington and Albany and for legal charges from the County Attorney’s Office for representation at hearings.

• Westchester County Association (2172): Increase due to reorganization of Economic Development in Westchester. In 1998 Dr. Prezioso’s salary was paid $35,000 by the IDA, $35,000 by the County Association and $35,000 by the County. Ms. Tooher will provide a breakdown. The Committee requested a description of the IDA mechanism inclusive of legal exposure the BOL has and where they get the right to spend money. Ms. Tooher suggested that the County Attorney and Larry Schwartz respond to this.
• Westchester Visitors and Convention Bureau (2189) will be funded from Tourism account next year.

• Residents’ Tuition-Other Community Colleges (2115): Statutory charge made on behalf of county residents going to other colleges. (The Fashion Institute of Technology is the largest)
• WCC-Sponsor Contribution (2165): appropriation passed by BOL in August
• IPM (Pest Management request) funding would be in the Miscellaneous Budget.

• Unemployment insurance (2005): Laid off and terminated employees are eligible
• Airport Repayment (2009): at end of ’97 fiscal year FAA settlement made Airport Enterprise fund whole.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES – NOVEMBER 23, 1998

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• Certiorari Proceedings (2020): Lowering estimate by $300,000. Mr. Boland asked why the sewer districts are going up while the general fund is going down. Ms. Bennett responded that they can always transfer within the operating budget but the sewer district stand alone and there is no place to go if the estimates are too low.

• Court Ordered Medical Examinations (2050): Seeing an increase.
• Ethics Commission (2062): Committee requested a breakdown. Title should be changed to Ethics Board to comply with the Charter.
• Independent Audit (2065): BKS audits. This is the 2^nd year of a 3 year agreement.
• In Rem Proceedings (2075): Statutory Charge – for charges brought by the County. Committee asked why this is not in the County Executive’s Budget./ Ms. Tooher will report back to the Committee.
• Interest-Income-District Repayment (2080): Interest payments required for district’s borrowing for 1997 of $35 million.

• Legal Aid Society (2085): In addition tot he $5,870,000 allowed for 1998 there is a Trust grant on Probation (T-26) for Legal Aid Society for $727,209.

• OSHA Safety Standards (2095): Going to Law Department Budget (p. C138)
• Public Employment Relations Board (2105): For hearings. $8,000 is an estimate.
• State Court Rental (2123): Rental payments on leased facilities

• Taxes on County Property (2130): Ms. Tooher stated that this contains no pilot payments; sewer and water taxes only. Committee requested an analysis of the County’s relationship with parking garages at the Medical Center and the Airport.

• Surrogate County Rental (2150): Rental payments on leased facilities
• Family Court Rental (2155): Rental payments on leased facilities

• Arson Zone Plan (2008): Moved into an expense account in Fire Services
• County Membership fees (2030): County’s fees for memberships to various organizations
• Crime Victims Assistance (2040): $72,000 for Rape Crisis program; $48,000 for nurse examiner program. Committee requested a breakdown.

• Employee Awards (2060): Pays for 25-30 year award luncheons

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MINUTES – NOVEMBER 23, 1998

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• Human Rights Commission (2067): $100,000 lump sum appropriation. If the budget is passed with this appropriation and the legislation creating a Human Rights Commission does not pass this money cannot be used for anything else

• Invest in Kids (2081): Same level of appropriation as in previous years. A portion of 1998 may roll into 1999.

• Legal Awareness (2086): to County Attorney’s Office
• Special Studies (2120): 1998 appropriation was for budget study with BKS. If they decide to go this way for 1999 they will come in with a transfer. Mr. Boland requested a current list of reserves.

• Water Agency (2160): Remaining County share for water agencies. Committee asked why everything is not charged to the water districts. Ms. Tooher responded that they will revisit the methodology. Mrs. LaMotte would like for the bus distribution system to be looked at also.

• Westchester Mediation Service (2185): basically for tenant-landlord disputes

• Insurance (4280): For property and vehicle insurance
• Contribution to 6N Fund (4937): County’s self-insurance program. County does not have an umbrella policy. County has a catastrophic reserve of $8 million which consists of funds not designated for particular claims. Ms. Tooher explained that since 1986 they go out every 5 years to test the marketplace for excess coverage to see if it is cost beneficial for the County to go out of the self-insurance program. So far it has not been. Savings achieved in this fund in the miscellaneous budget will not affect individual departmental insurance lines.
• Mrs. Carsky asked if the insurance liability issues have shifted to the Airport since it became an Enterprise Fund or if the responsibility still lies with the County. Committee will discuss this further.
• Contribution to Workers’ Compensation Fund (4945): Trying to allocate workers contribution charges to departments. Mr. Boland asked if the previous deficit in this fund has been made whole. Ms. Tooher stated that because of the spin-off and transition of the Health Care Corporation it will be in the black in 1998.

• Capital Projects (2200): Cash-to-Capital. Easy account to cut because it hits tax levy.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES – NOVEMBER 23, 1998

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• Changes due to new agreement

• Retirement System (1650): Major decrease has to do with group term life insurance costs which have gone down.
• FICA/Medicare (1651): Increase driven by salaries and bonuses paid out.
• Employee Health Benefits (1680): Have tried to identify gross expenditures through self-insurance program. Increase in health cost for retirees is due to the Medical Center retirees coming back into the pot. Part B. Medicare costs are increasing due to the fact that there are more retirees and the government’s increasing of Part B Medicare premiums. Bottom line: Increase of $7 million.
• Mr. Kaplowitz asked why the trust accounts are not paying for some of the retirement fringe benefits which would create less of a hit on the tax levy. Ms. Tooher will look into this matter.

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the meeting was adjourned at 12:20 p.m.