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COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS MINUTES DECEMBER 7, 1998 ATTENDANCE: B & A MEMBERS: Wishnie, Abinanti, Carsky, Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Latimer Mosiello, Stewart-Cousins, Swanson, Young OTHERS: Budget Dept.: Kate Tooher, Leslie Bennett, Diane Nolan; CBAC: Barbara Strauss, George Hosey; LWV: Jo Brill; C.E.’s Office: Larry Schwartz, Bill Randolph; Tarrytowns Comm. Center: John Keels; The After School Corp.: Vince Marrone; WWA: Amy Paulin; Ossining NHC: Lindsay Farrell; Women’s Justice Center: Karen Hogan; BKS: Les Storch, Nick DeSantis; Peekskill Area Health Ctr: Anne Nolon; BOL: Legislator Ryan, Legislator Bronz, Legislator Oros, Legislator Noto, Pat Gorski, Chris Chang, Sally Schecter, Barbara Dodds, Robert Hoch, Robert J. Boland, Tina Seckerson Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. DISCUSSION: (There is a cassette tape on file for more detailed information) PROPOSED 1999 BUDGET – ADDITIONS: BKS – RECOMMENDATIONS RE: 1999 PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET:
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COMMITTEE WORK SESSION ON ADDITIONS TO THE BUDGET: EXPENSES: (Adds): (* Denotes those items which have preliminarily been agreed upon by the Committee) Neighborhood Health Centers: Police *Probation: 107,600 *Fire Services: 214,400 Invest-in-Kids *Resident Tuition: 175,000 BOL-Auditing: 295,000 ( R ) Planning-Env. Audit: 150,000 ( R ) COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MINUTES – DECEMBER 7, 1998 PAGE 3
Economic Development: 175,000 ( R ) *Great Hunger Comm.: 25,000 *Bx Rvr Celebration: 25,000 *Entrepreneurial Acct: 10,000 (D) *Legal Services-(Love) Homeless: 145,000 *Legal Services-Domestic Violence: 275,000 *New Rochelle Family Court: 30,000 *Supervised Visitation: 21,400 DA-Legal Staff: 125,000 ( R ) *Domestic Violence/Non-Res: 67,000 Revenues 33,500 *Women’s Justice Center: 40,000 CASA *Cornell Co-op Extension: 25,000 *Arts: 60,000 *Parks Curators: 127,000 Wgts/Measures: 76,000 ( R ) *DOT-Bus Fare & Routes: 647,800 *DPW: IMA/Hawthorne: 5,000 *Pest Management-DPW *Hudson Rvr Museum 587,500 Bd of Elections *Food Bank: 30,000 Lyme Disease: 50,000 EXPENSES: (Deletes): Hudson Rvr Museum REVENUES: (Adds): Sales Tax Hotel Tax Auto Use Tax PILOT Co. Clerk PRC DSS Weights/Measures N’hood Health Center/aid COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MINUTES – DECEMBER 7, 1998 PAGE 4
DOT-Bus Rte/Aid 647,800 revenues 153.800 *Legal Services-DV: 137,500 *Domestic Violence/Non-Res/Aid: 15,000 REVENUES: (Deletes): Corrections DPW SPECIAL DISTRICTS: *Solid Waste: Sprout Brook Ash 10,000 RECESS: Chairman Wishnie recessed the meeting to the call of the Chair at 11:45 a.m. Chairman Wishnie reconvened the meeting at 5:50 p.m. Several others joined the meeting at this time, including: Legislators Pinto, Spreckman, Maisano, Ryan; INFLOW & INFILTRATION LEGISLATION: On motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 10-0. ADDITIONS: Revenues: $188,000 Neighborhood Health Centers: 537,000 Police: $199,600 On motion of Legislator Mosiello, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion to add 8 police officers to the Dept. of Public Safety Services was defeated by a vote of 6-4 with Legislators LaMotte, Mosiello, Carsky and Swanson voting in the affirmative. On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to add 6 police officers was carried unanimously. COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MINUTES – DECEMBER 7, 1998 PAGE 5
Probation: $107.600 – for 2 officers: On motion of Legislator Mosiello, seconded by Legislator Latimer the motion to add two probation officers to the Department of Probation was carried by unanimously. On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Latimer the motion to add $67,000 to Domestic Violence with a revenue 33.5 was unanimously approved. On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, all items in the boxes were approved 8-0 with Legislator Mosiello abstaining and Legislator LaMotte out of the room when the vote was taken. Invest in Kids: On motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, Invest in Kids was increased by $240,000 which motion was approved 9-0 with Legislator Mosiello abstaining. BOL Auditing: $295,000 was defeated 6-4 with Legislator LaMotte, Carsky, Mosiello and Swanson being recorded in the affirmative. Env. Audit $150,000 On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion failed 4-4 with Legislators Swanson, Mosiello, Carsky and Mosiello being recorded in the affirmative and Legislators Abinanti and Young abstaining. Economic Development $50,000: On motion of Legislator Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion was adopted 8-0 with Legislator Mosiello and Carsky abstaining. DA-Legal Staff $125,000. On motion of Legislator Mosiello, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion failed by a vote of 4-4 with Legislators Abinanti, and Latimer abstaining and Legislators Carsky, Mosiello, Swanson and LaMotte being recorded in the affirmative. CASA $40,000: On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Wishnie, the motion unanimously passed 8-0 with Legislators Latimer and Carsky abstaining. Weights & Measures: $76,000: On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion was withdrawn COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MINUTES – DECEMBER 7, 1998 PAGE 6
Board of Elections: Information Services was deleted as per Mr. Jacknis’ memo. Lyme Disease: On motion of Mr. Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to move the $50,000 addition was carried by a vote of 7-0 with Legislators Carsky, Latimer and Swanson abstaining. On motion of Mr. Kaplowitz, the meeting recessed at 7:00 P.M.
The meeting reconvened at 11:20 p.m. BOL Auditors: $295,000. Mr. Young made a motion, seconded by Legislators Carsky and Swanson for reconsideration of this item with an amendment: Consider function and don’t use the name "auditor". Report directly as a management aid to BOL in the amount of $190,000 (1 position plus a consultant) which motion was defeated by a vote of 5 – 5 with Legislators Young, Carsky, LaMotte, Mosiello, and Swanson being recorded in the affirmative. REVENUE: Adds: Sales Tax: 1,600,000 Hotel Tax: 150,000 Pilot: 700,000 Cty Clerk: 375,000 DSS: 250,000 On motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator Stewart-Cousins, the motion to approve the Sales tax, Hotel tax, Pilot, County Clerk and DSS adds was carried by a vote of 10-0.
Add to Capital Budget: $200,000: Legislator Maisano requested this be moved up one year: RB013: Pelham Road & Echo Avenue-New Rochelle – Repaving: Budgetary impact of $200,000 for Cap Bud for 1999. On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Latimer, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 10-0. COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MINUTES – DECEMBER 7, 1998 PAGE 7
Capital Budget: County Road & Bridge Project: RB019 $1.6 million scheduled for year 2003. Mr. Ryan asked for consideration of accelerating this project. Advancement of $600,000 for work to be done on Central Westchester Parkway. (to address safety problems including widening of road shoulder, construction of embankment, etc.) 3 more phases and would ask that phase 3 be done next year On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 10-0. BUDGET ACT LANGUAGE: Section 1A. During the Calendar Year 1999, the Commissioner of Finance shall verify and provide the Board of Legislators quarterly with a statement of the County’s cash flow for the General Fund. Section 2A. Within 30 days after the close of the Second Quarter and the Fourth Quarter for the Calendar Year 1999, the Commissioner of Finance shall verify and provide the Board of Legislators with:
Section 3A. In view of the appropriation made herein for the Department of Transportation, on or before July 1, 1999 and December 1, 1999, the Commissioner of Social Services shall provide the Board of Legislators with a progress report on the Power Plus program, including, but not limited to, the number of cases closed or reduced due to unsubsidized employment. Section 4A . In view of the appropriation made herein for the Department of Social Services, no officer or employee of the County shall initiate or undertake any action to cause the Bee-line standard bus fare to increase beyond $1.40 to take effect in Calendar Year 1999 so long as Federal and State funding remains at current levels.On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the motion to approve the above-referenced budget act language was carried by a vote of 9-1 with Legislator Swanson being recorded in the negative. COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MINUTES – DECEMBER 7, 1998 PAGE 8
Additional Budget act language: Section 1A. No additional positions may be authorized or created and/or no additional personal services may be employed except for positions appearing On motion of Legislator Swanson, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the motion to approve the above-referenced language was defeated by a vote of 5-5 with Legislators Carsky, LaMotte, Mosiello, Swanson and Young being recorded in the affirmative. Legislator Oros stated his opinion that separate legislation is needed with specific language re: the WCHCC is needed to insure necessary funding to keep the facility running. Special District Operating Budget: Peekskill Sanitary Sewer District: Interfund transfer: On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 10-0. Chairman Wishnie recessed the meeting at12:15 a.m. The Committee reconvened at 1:25 a.m. On motion of Legislator LaMotte, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion to add $29 million to the 1999 Capital Budget for I/I repairs was defeated by a vote of 2-6 with Legislators LaMotte and Carsky being recorded in the affirmative and Legislators Swanson and Mosiello abstaining. COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MINUTES – DECEMBER 7, 1998 PAGE 9
MEMORANDUM OF ADDITIONS: December 7, 1998
Board of Legislators County of Westchester 800 Michaelian Office Building White Plains, New York 10601 Honorable Colleagues: On Monday, October 19, 1998, County Executive Andrew J. Spano forwarded his proposed 1999 County Capital Budget which the Budget and Appropriations Committee of your Honorable Board immediately began analysis and discussion. A month later, on Monday, November 16, 1998, the County Executive forwarded his proposed 1999 County Operating Budget. Having had the time to essentially complete its work on the proposed 1999 Capital Budget, your Committee on Budget and Appropriations was able to devote full attention to the proposed 1999 Operating Budget upon its arrival. Pursuant to Section 167.81 of the Laws of Westchester County as amended by Local Law 8-1994, your Committee on Budget and Appropriations, within a specified time period, has the authority to file with the Board a memorandum of any proposed additions to the Proposed Budget. This Charter-mandated procedure has, in many instances, led to some difficulties. Time restrictions often required items to be added to the proposed budget before they could be fully considered by your Committee on Budget and Appropriations. This year, however, your Committee believes it has significantly lessened, if not eliminated this problem, thanks in no small measure to the cooperative spirit manifested by all members of the Board. In the past, your Committee has emphatically stated its intention to ultimately offer cuts in the proposed County Budget that would, to the fullest extent possible, offset any additions. Usually these deletions were made on the floor of the Board during the meeting for the adoption of the Budget. This year, however, your Committee has taken a different position. It has, instead, labored long and hard to offer, for the first time in recent memory, concurrent increases in revenue and deletions in expenditures which do not merely match but exceed the COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MINUTES – DECEMBER 7, 1998 PAGE 11
additions. In other words, your Committee has taken the County Executive’s Proposed Budget, which commendably included a reduction in property taxes, and lowered those taxes even further. And, in keeping with Board policy, your Committee notes that any addition contained in this Memorandum, as well as any other item, may still subsequently be reduced or entirely deleted from the proposed 1999 County Budget prior to its adoption. This means that the only question remaining is not whether the taxpayers of Westchester will realize a reduction in their burden, but how much that reduction will be. Your Committee will continue working tirelessly to determine whether any further decreases in the budget can be responsibly made without compromising Westchester’s quality and equality of life. No matter what the results are of this endeavor, your Honorable Board will have before it for adoption a Budget consistent with its pledge to the public to lower property taxes in the County. Unlike prior years, your Committee has taken steps to make sure that this is the only possible action that can be taken if a budget is to be adopted. During the process of considering additions, your Committee has called on various County departments and agencies to testify. It has also relied on the expertise of its auditors and has taken into account the views of all Legislators, the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, numerous groups and organizations, and individual citizens. All of these perspectives have been factored into this Memorandum, ensuring that it is the product of true participatory government. Based on its own projections and those of reliable others, your Committee has, as noted above, increased certain revenues. In so doing, your Committee believes it has presented a more realistic assessment of the County’s income position. It should be recalled that your Committee made similar adjustments to revenues in the last two years’ additions and these proved to be prudent adjustments. The additions to expenditures reflect the close attention your Honorable Board has given to the voices of the larger community. Your Honorable Board has demonstrated in various ways throughout this year its conviction that the people must be true partners in the process of democratic governing. Your Committee believes that the actions it has taken in this Memorandum is yet another, extremely significant example of this conviction.
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Your Committee also wishes to note that it has made some specific additions that it feels will enhance the safety of Westchester residents. One of the larger allocations is to improve our fire control services and, if approved, your Committee hopes that the Administration will make provisions for qualified supervision at the Fire Training Center on weekends. Your Committee has also deemed it wise to provide funds to help stem the terrible tide of domestic abuse that crushes families and lives. And it has determined that the bus fares should be maintained at their current level, and critical bus routes restored, as part of this County’s on-going commitment to encouraging mass transportation. Your Honorable Board has long shown its progressive thinking on health care initiatives. In keeping with this, your Committee has made certain that all Westchester residents have appropriate access to basic health care by restoring the necessary funding to neighborhood health care centers. It has also added funds to ensure that Westchester will continue to be a leader in the fight against Lyme disease. Your Committee has been assured by the Administration that Pest Management, an essential environmental initiative, will be given sufficient money by the Department of Public Works. Your Committee has also received written assurances from the County’s Department of Information Services that the work needed to implement electronic filing at the Board of Elections – something strongly urged by County residents – can and will be done within existing funding. Your Committee would also urge two further things of the Administration: first, in utilizing the $200,000 funding for Invest In Kids, it seek to take advantage of any matching money available through the After-School Corporation and, second, that through the Department of Social Services, it address the lack of infant care in the County by employing some of the funds dedicated to Child Care Services. Through its issuance of this Memorandum, your Committee hereby complies with the Westchester County Charter. While it believes the actions contained within this Memorandum are sage and beneficial, their ultimate disposition can only be determined by your Honorable Board acting as a full legislative body. Likewise, the county tax rate can only be changed by majority of the Board when it passes a budget and/or acts on a County Executive’s vetoes on specific, Charter-allowed items. COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MINUTES – DECEMBER 7, 1998 PAGE 12
With these understandings, your Committee hereby recommends the following additions to your Honorable Board for its full deliberation and ultimate decision: ADDITIONS TO THE BUDGET
REVENUES: FINANCE (150000) Sales Tax $ 1,600,000 Hotel Tax 150,000 Pilots 700,000 _______________________________________________________ Total $ 2,450,000 COUNTY CLERK – LAND DIVISION (210300) Departmental Income (9050) $ 375,000 SOCIAL SERVICES (228900) Departmental Income (9050) $ 250,000 TOTAL REVENUE ADDITIONS $ 3,075,000
EXPENDITURES: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (110700) Expenditure: Technical Services $ 50,000 To help in the cultivation and expansion of small business enterprises within Westchester County. COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MINUTES – DECEMBER 7, 1998 PAGE 13
SOCIAL SERVICES (228900) Expenditure: Indirect Services (5960) Love $ 145,000 Sacred Heart Food Bank 30,000 To provide assistance to these community programs which beneficially impact those in need. Legal Services-Domestic Violence 275,000 Domestic Violence Education 67,000 To help victims of domestic violence by ensuring their access to the protection of the legal system and to help provide needed education and awareness to help stem the increase in domestic violence.. Revenue: State Aid (9700) 137,500 To add the State Aid relative to the aforementioned function.
Revenue: State Aid (9700) 32,000 - To add the State Aid relative to the aforementioned function. TOTAL SOCIAL SERVICE $ 347,500
FIRE SERVICES (230000) Expenditure: Annual Regular (1010) $ 157,465 Employee Benefits (521650) 43,418 Salary Adjustment (1500) 11,215 COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MINUTES – DECEMBER 7, 1998 PAGE 14
To fund (1) Assistant Fire Coordinator Group XIV, (2) Training Technicians Group X, and (1) Communications Operator Group VII. Equipment-Additional (2400) 12,000 To purchase equipment necessary for the effective and efficient operation of Fire Services in the County. TOTAL FIRE SERVICES $ 224,098
HEALTH (270000) Expenditure: Neighborhood Health Centers (4370) $ 275,642
To provide a higher level of funding for Ossining, Mt. Vernon and Peekskill health centers. Revenue: State Aid (9700) 99,231 To add the State Aid relative to providing a higher level of funding for the aforementioned health centers. Expenditure: Contractual Services (4380) 261,358 To provide for the additional staff support needed due to the higher level of funding for the neighborhood health centers. Revenue: State Aid (9700) 89,206 To add the State Aid relative to the aforementioned function. COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MINUTES – DECEMBER 7, 1998 PAGE 15
Expenditure: Lyme Disease (4469) 50,000 To help fund cutting edge research on a malady that is particularly prevalent in Westchester. TOTAL HEALTH $ 398,563
PUBLIC SAFETY (380000) Expenditure: Annual Regular (1010) $ 192,810 Employee Benefits (521650) 63,859 Salary Adjustment (1500) 6,748
To fund (6) Police Officers Grade IX _______________________________________________________________ TOTAL PUBLIC SAFETY $ 263,417
PROBATION (390000) Expenditure: Annual Regular (1010) $ 79,880 Employee Benefits (521650) 22,026 Salary Adjustment (1500) 5,690 To fund (2) Probation Officers Grade XI Contractual Services (4380) 21,400 For needed assistance in providing supervised visitations. _______________________________________________________________ TOTAL PROBATION $ 128,996
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PARKS, RECREATION & CONSERVATION (421100) Expenditure: Annual Regular (1010) $ 101,445 Employee Benefits (521650) 27,973 Salary Adjustment (1500) 7,230 To fund (3) Curators Grade IX. _______________________________________________________________ TOTAL PARKS $ 136,648
TRANSPORTATION (442100) Expenditure: Bus Operating Assistance (4924) $ 647,831 To prevent a bus fare increase and restore (2) bus routes. Revenue: State Aid (9700) 153,831 To add the State Aid relative to the aforementioned actions. _______________________________________________________________ TOTAL TRANSPORTATION $ 494,000
PUBLIC WORKS-FLEET OPERATIONS (466700) Expenditure: Contractual Services (4380) $ 5,000 To pay for training in the Valhalla Fire District. _______________________________________________________________ TOTAL PUBLIC WORKS $ 5,000 COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MINUTES – DECEMBER 7, 1998 PAGE 17
MISCELLANEOUS (520000) Expenditure: Legal Awareness-Womens Justice (2086) $ 40,000 Invest In Kids (2081) 200,000 Hudson River Museum (2015) 587,500 Resident Tuition (2115) 175,000 Westchester Cooperative Extension Service (2170) 25,000 Westchester Entrepreneurial Assistance (2197) 10,000 Arts In Westchester (2010) 60,000 Family Court Center (2064) 30,000 Special Studies (2120) 90,000 To better reflect the funding needs of various items within this diverse yet critical grouping. TOTAL MISCELLANEOUS $ 1,217,500 TOTAL EXPENDITURE ADDITIONS $ 3,265,722 CAPITAL BUDGET RB013 Pelham Road and Echo Avenue, CR 65A, New Rochelle/Pelham Manor $ 200,000 This will begin work a year early on badly needed rehabilitation and paving for these critical roads. This schedule will also move the $1.2 million set to be spent in 2001 over to 2000. RB019 Central Westchester Parkway, CR#150, White Plains and North Castle $ 600,000 This will accelerate this priority first phase of safety improvements to the Central Westchester Parkway, including shoulder widening, guardrail installation on the western side of roadway from the intersection of Route 22 and Reservoir Road, running south along side the residential neighborhood. COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MINUTES – DECEMBER 7, 1998 PAGE 18
SPECIAL DISTRICTS Refuse Disposal District No. 1 – Administration (607100) Contractual Services (4380) $ 10,000
For quality assurance and verification by the local surrounding communities of County air, soil and water monitoring at the Sprout Brook Ash Pit. Peekskill Sanitary Sewer District (601610) Increase of Fund Balance (9650) $ 150,000 Use of fund balance to mitigate any tax increase as a result of the Board’s 1998 action in removing BUDGET ACT Section 1A. During the Calendar Year 1999, the Commissioner of Finance shall verify and provide the Board of Legislators quarterly with a statement of the County’s cash flow for the General Fund.
Section 2A. Within 30 days after the close of the Second Quarter and the Fourth Quarter for the Calendar Year 1999, the Commissioner of Finance shall verify and provide the Board of Legislators with: Section 3A. In view of the appropriation made herein for the Department of Social Services on or before July 1, 1999 and December 1, 1999, the Commissioner of Social Services shall provide the Board of Legislators with a progress report on the Power Plus program, including, but not limited to, the number of cases closed or reduced due to unsubsidized employment. COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MINUTES – DECEMBER 7, 1998 PAGE 19
Section 4A. In view of the appropriation made herein for the Department of Transportation, no officer or employee of the County shall initiate or undertake any action to cause the Bee-line standard bus fare to increase beyond $1.40 to take effect in Calendar Year 1999 so long as Federal and State funding remains at current levels. On motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve the above referenced Memorandum of Additions was carried by a vote of 8-0 with Legislators LaMotte and Mosiello abstaining.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Mosiello, seconded by Legislator Kaplowitz, the meeting was adjourned at 1:35 a.m.
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