COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

NOVEMBER 24, 1998

ATTENDANCE:

Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 9:45 a.m.

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

Kate Tooher and her staff gave a brief overview of the method used to arrive at the 1999 debt service appropriation of $70,876,803 which is the amount shown in the operating budget. This represents a net amount after deductions of various cost centers such as the Community College, Airport, Playland and General Services. Debt service attributed to the Medical Center and RTI will be reimbursed entirely by the Hospital Corporation.

Included in the debt service is interest on TANS amounting to $2,706,000 based on issuance of $75 million in TANS.

• Clinic Services (visits): Increase from 6,500 to 7,500 based on staffing pattern. One employee has not been at work for almost the entire year. By filling the position it will cause an increase.
• Positions: 2 Managerial positions (Grade XV) are being abolished and will not affect the operations of the department.
• Committee requested a schedule of positions transferred from trusts.

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• Employee Health Insurance (1680): Increase due to positions transferred from trusts.
• Employee Assistance (4232): Mr. Boland stated that this shows a net figure but it should be a gross figure detailing state aid, etc. Ms. Tooher responded that they will revisit the methodology next year.
• Unemployment Insurance (1720): Decrease: Tend to have very little draw on unemployment insurance
• Homeless Assessment Unit (4353): Located next to Volunteer of America Unit at Airport. This is a daytime assessment activity run by DSS and Mental
• Health. Again, this is a net figure and should be a gross number. Commissioner Friedman stated that they only show the piece that has a tax levy ramification.

• Payments to Additional Psychiatric Services (4500): Mr. Boland stated this is a net figure and should be a gross figure showing state aid. This is the only tax levy we contribute. We are just a pass through with the state aid, similar to CDBG funds.
• War on Drugs: Moved from accounts 5140 & 5141 to 4600
• Services by Dept. of Finance (5375): Moved up to Technical Services
• Increase in state aid (9700): Increase due to moving of positions from trust accounts - salaries washed out by state aid

• In discussion of the 6-N fund departmental contributions the Committee requested a copy of the Actuary’s report.
• There was a discussion with regard to the FICA numbers. Budget Department will check worksheets and get back to the Committee with detail.
• Data Processing (5260): Increase due to reallocation of costs

• TB Control Program (4238): Reimbursed by state 36%. To better reflect the number of positions, moved positions from expense accounts to annual regular. The Committee requested a schedule of where positions were moved to. Added a full-time infectious disease specialist. Given no surprises throughout the year Dr. Adel stated that funding for TB control should be adequate.
• Communicable disease control epidemics are handled by moving employees from task to task.

• Lyme Disease (4469): This account was strictly for salaries and has been moved up to annual regular.

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MINUTES – NOVEMBER 24, 1998

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• Lyme Disease Educational Program (T-512): 2 employees. 1 County employee; 1 County employee funded by a state grant
• Prostate Screening: In a Trust Account: Colorectal Cancer Screening & Prostate Cancer Education Initiatives Program: Funds: $96,000 State; $85,387 County in-kind match (reflects a portion of existing salaries and on-going resources)

• Lead Based Paint Program: Mr. Boland questioned why positions are being left in trusts if Budget is moving positions into the operating budget, why aren’t all of the positions being transferred? Ms. Tooher explained that moving positions from trusts to operating has been a massive undertaking and they will revisit this for next year.

• Health Centers: Dr. Adel stated that the neighborhood health centers render a critical function to the community but their funding has been based solely on a historical basis. The system is changing rapidly. Due to the changes and decline in Medicaid utilization several DOH clinics had to be closed. There is a need to adapt to the changing funding stream. Several years ago the DOH felt that a rational formula should be applied as a funding basis. The health centers chose not to review the formula and the County chose not to apply the formula. The County continued to fund the health centers based on a historical basis. He further stated that there should be a controlled fund or pool to be allocated to the health centers rather than continuing to fund them on a historical basis.

• There was a discussion with regard to enrolling children and their families for health care services (Child Care Plus). Dr. Adel stated that the state is issuing RFP’s for this type of service. Ms. Yang-Lewis stated that Dr. Adel has formed a Child Health Task Force to discuss and review these types of issues with various types of representation.
• Point of Sale Notification: Role of the Health Department is to prepare, advertise and distribute material. Weights & Measures will be implementing and enforcing the law.

• Efficiency & Distribution of Services: Mrs. Carsky stated that she has been receiving complaints with regard to the fact that there are not enough cars and there is increased mileage as well as declining number of visits being made. Dr. Adel stated that with the number of cars provided as well as employees using their own cars (Reimburse employees for the use of their own vehicles) they have been able to satisfactorily been able to handle the situation. Committee requested a schedule from the Budget Department detailing the costs of moving from the central part of the County to the southern part of the County.

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• Ms. Yang-Lewis stated that they have a Vehicle Management Working Group that works on a regular basis to discuss these types of issues (i.e. satellite fleets). Mr. Boland pointed out that there are different insurance rates for cars being used for business rather than pleasure and asked if employees are being reimbursed for their insurance premiums. Dr. Adel stated that they are not. Ms. Tooher stated that there is a long standing County procedure for employees using their cars for business (through Risk Management).

• Teleconferencing: Have spoken with Dr. Jacknis on this matter as a priority and eager to see it happen.
• Y2K: Paying Info Services to solve the problem. Ongoing dialogue between MIS and DOH.
• Health Centers: $100,000 transferred from contractual services to the health centers. Committee requested a breakdown of the $100,000 and how it was allocated. Committee also requested a listing of payments to Health Centers other than from the Health Department (i.e. CDBG funds) for the past 3 years.
• Dr. Adel again stressed that a rationale and defensible formula is needed to base funding on for the Neighborhood Health Centers. Proposed that they work with a firm like Peat, Marwick on developing the formula. There were questions and concerns with regard to funding for the Greenburgh Neighborhood Health Center. Dr. Adel stated that they need to pursue federal dollars as well as private funding more aggressively.

• Services for Children with Disabilities: Task Force formed by County Executive Spano on this matter. DOH has made every possible effort to control costs in this program. Dr. Adel stated that this is a federal to state, state to county mandate and should be picked up in its entirety by the state. Mrs. LaMotte suggested that this should be made a top priority in the Legislative Package. Ms. Yang-Lewis informed the Committee that the state is currently proposing a change in the reimbursement rate for the Pre-K tuition rate. The current proposal would increase the County’s cost by 22%.

• This is a resolution transferring funds between general classifications of accounts in the 1998 County Sewer Districts Operating Budget in the amount of $100,000.

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• This transfer is necessary to conform with the Order of Consent entered into by and between the County and the NYS DEC, dated August 17, 1998.
• There were some questions with regard to the accuracy of some of the figures. Ms. Tooher detailed all the charges and stated that the net appropriation is necessary to cover districts that did not have the funds.

On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.

• This IMA will allow the County to reimburse Peekskill for costs incurred in transporting prisoners who have been arraigned from Peekskill to the Westchester County Jail.
• Mr. Boland inquired as to why this is not going before A&C. Ms. Tooher responded that IMA agreements have to be approved by the BOL and then go up to A&C for contracts.
• Mr. Abinanti stated his objection, as he has in the past, to the Board being given an act approving an IMA without being provided a copy of the IMA in advance.

On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 7-0.

On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion to approve the Minutes of November 17, 18, 19 & 20-1998 was carried by a vote of 7-0.

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m.