COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES

MARCH 29, 1999

ATTENDANCE:

Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 10:15 a.m.

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

MINUTES:

On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve the Minutes of March 22, 1999 was carried by a vote of 8-0.

• Dr. Mustich, Superintendent of the Rye Neck Schools, began by stating that his school district is not co-terminus with the municipality. The Rye Neck School District is comprised of Rye City and the Town of Rye. The equalization rate formula was changed by the State without notification resulting in a 15.6% increase in the City and a –5% in the Town. This results in a 25% school tax increase (for I year) per household (approximately a couple of thousand dollars per household) in the City of Rye and a 4% increase per household in the Town of Rye.

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

MINUTES – MARCH 29, 1999

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• Dr. Wells, Superintendent for the Briarcliff School District, stated that her school district has the same problem with not being co-terminus with the municipality. The Briarcliff School District is made up of Ossining and Mt. Pleasant. The change in equalization rate results in a 7% increase for Ossining and a 14% increase for Mt. Pleasant. Dr. Wells stated that revaluation would be a solution to this problem.
• Dr. Mustich stated that there should have been a discussion with regard to phasing the change in equalization rate in.
• Dr. Wells stated that STAR payments will help bring the increase down, but people are expecting a drop which will not happen.
• Mr. Ryan, Business Administrator for the Lakeland School District, stated that his district is unique in that it is made comprised of three towns in Westchester as well as three towns in Putnam. Yorktown experienced a decrease in school taxes last year while the Town of Cortlandt experienced a 23% increase. He stated that revaluation may be one solution but it must be coupled with follow-up and updating every 3-5 years. Mr. Ryan stated that a complaint they hear from local assessors is that the number of samples used is inadequate and not representative of what is happening to the value of property in the municipality.
• Mr. Latimer stated that the County has to be a lead advocate with the State for a solution.
• Mr. Kaplowitz stated that in addition to revaluation, we must urge the State representatives to change what the Office of Real Property Tax services does regarding segmentation.
• Mr. Mosiello stated that municipalities can do revaluation on their own without the County. Mr. Latimer stated that when there is a non co-terminus school district all of the municipalities have to commit to reval together.
• Mr. Ryan suggested that if there is to be a change in law that the method of assessing become consistent throughout the County.
• Mrs. Carsky suggested that the BOL send a letter to communities asking them to commit to reval and then a letter to the Governor to get a group around the table to discuss and work out problems with reval.
• Mr. Latimer stated that after a series of meetings on this matter a plan should be put together as to what direction the BOL wants to go in. We still need to hear from the County Attorney as to legalities and options.

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MINUTES – MARCH 29, 1999

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1. Prisoner Transportation: Proposed Act authorizing the County to enter into an IMA with the Town of Greenburgh in order to provide reimbursement for prisoner transportation to the Westchester County Jail. (3/22/99) (Also referred to PSCJ)

• An IMA with the Town of Greenburgh in order to reimburse an amount not to exceed $100,000 to Greenburgh for the term commencing 1/1/99 and terminating 12/31/2000.
• This IMA will allow the County to reimburse Greenburgh for the costs it incurs in transporting prisoners who have been arraigned from Greenburgh to the Westchester County Jail.
• Reimbursement to Greenburgh will be for round trip transportation and will be based on the per hour labor costs of police officers.
• The County will also reimburse Greenburgh for the actual and reasonable cost of meals provided to post-arraignment prisoners.

• Signed out by PSCJ at their meeting this morning.

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

Yonkers Joint Treatment Plant: $4,000,000 to finance long-range sludge disposal solution.

• This item was previously approved by the Budget Committee and held over at the March 22^nd Board meeting.
• Mr. Wishnie gave a brief overview of the project.
• Mrs. Carsky asked whether her question; i.e. will changing the original scenario under which the Consent Decree was arrived at in any way require a new Environmental Review Process? Mr. Randolph stated that this matter was still being investigated by the Law Department.

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• Mrs. Carsky also asked if the copy of the Black & Vetch report she requested had been received yet. Mr. Randolph stated that it will be provided by Commissioner Landi.
• Mrs. Stewart-Cousins stated that after numerous meeting they were assured that two additional hoppers would address the storage needs of the YJTP. She further stated that it was her understanding that due to litigation matters the Black & Vetch could not be widely distributed as of yet.

• Mr. Mosiello referenced the Budget Minutes of February 8^th which made reference to an article that appeared in The Journal News regarding that fact Job Training Funding had run out of money. Due to this article Mr. Mosiello had requested a breakdown of administrative costs. He stated that he received an e-mail response from Kate Tooher dated March 11th giving some information but not the particular info he requested. Mr. Boland stated that he requested a breakdown of the administrative costs from the Budget Department.

The Committee reviewed the April 1, 1999 A&C Calendar. Several questions were highlighted and information will be provided when the back-up is received.

There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Young, the meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m.