MINUTES
OTHERS: Budget Dept.: Kate Carrano, Leslie Bennett, Diane Nolan; CBAC: George Hosey, Barbara Strauss; C.E.’s Office: Bill Randolph, Symra Brandon; County Clerk’s Office: Leonard Spano, Eugene Rogers, John Delaney; WWA: Anne Janiak, Julie Domonkos; WCC: Louis Torrieri, Bridgette Anderson; DSS: Commissioner Mahon, Olivia Rhodes, Dennis Packard, Jewru Bandeh, Nancy Travers; Day Care Council: Lottie Harris; BOL: Barbara Dodds, Tara Bernard, Sally Schecter, Rafael Vega, Steve Bass, Robert Boland, Chris Chang, Tina Seckerson
Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m.
DISCUSSION: (There is a cassette tape on file for more detailed information)
2001 PROPOSED BUDGET: COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE:
· Coming off the peak of last year and looking toward a more normal work flow. They were 5 months behind but have since caught up.
· Decrease in expenses due to a drop in overtime and a $600,000 drop in data processing costs.
· Position: 1 position added to move records daily to the Record Center.
· Requested 5 more positions to supplement workforce but were not allowed. They feel that since the workload will hopefully be leveling off they will be okay.
· Working with IT to get title companies on line. Will be doing a test run with some of the major companies to test the electronic transmission of the data into the system.
· Committee requested back-up on revenues
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
MINUTES – NOVEMBER 17, 2000
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A1. College Financing Agreement: Proposed legislation authorizing the
County and the Community College to enter into a Second Supplemental Financing Agreement with the Dormitory Authority in connection with the issuance of bonds by the Authority. (11/13/00)
· In connection with the issuance of bonds by the Authority to finance New York State’s one-half share ($630,500) of the capital cost of construction and rehabilitation for physical education field improvements and air conditioning system improvements at WCC.
· Under the Second Supplemental Agreement, the County will assign to the Authority funds appropriated by the State legislature to the County and the College for the State’s one-half share of the project. The Authority will be acting as a pass through for the state funding. The County will be responsible for its half of the cost of the project. The balance of the cost of the project has been provided for in the College’s capital budget.
· Also included in this legislation are two bond acts in the amount of $630,000 ($265,500 for the physical education field improvements and $365,000 for the improvements to the air conditioning systems) representing the County’s one-half share of the project.
· State goes to the bond market to finance their share. WCC was notified of this in October and told that they would be going out to the bond market in November.
· The original agreement that is being amended by this one was entered into between the same parties and is dated February 26, 1997. The original agreement permits participation by the County in financing in connection with the issuance of bonds by the Authority and assigns to the Authority funds appropriated by the State legislature to the County and the College for certain specified projects.
· The Second Supplemental Agreement will add the new projects as well as ratify and affirm, in form and substance, the First Supplemental Financing Agreement dated February 24, 1999 between the same parties. The First Supplemental Agreement revised the projects covered by the original agreement.
On motion of Legislator Carsky, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 6-0.
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
MINUTES – NOVEMBER 17, 2000
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2001 PROPOSED BUDGET: DSS:
· The Commissioner stated that the department has really moved forward over the last year but still has a long way to go.
· The Department’s reputation as the leader in the protection of vulnerable children and adults continues to be strong.
· New York has not settled the Jiggetts v. Wing litigation and will again force the County to budget for this eventuality without a clear understanding of the possible financial impact. The Department is requesting $1.5 million to cover the anticipated increase in the shelter allowance standard.
· Medicaid: budgeted at a 5.6% increase or $8.19 million above current projections. The major components of this increase are:
Ø Pharmaceutical costs continue to increase. Expenses in this area are expected to increase $1.77 million.
Ø NYS passed the legislation creating the Family Health Plus program. This program is projected to cost $1 million in local tax levy in 2001. Facilitated enrollment in the Child Health Plus program is expected to result in the disenrollment of children who would otherwise qualify for Medicaid. The budget anticipates this action to result in a Medicaid expense increase of $10.4 million.
Ø NYS is again expected to provide a rate increase to Managed Care Plans. DSS has anticipated a 5% increase. The result of this increase, coupled with continued enrollment of SSI and Safety Net cases in Medicaid Managed Care are expected to increase expenses by $2.28 million.
· Overtime (1400): For this year there was a nurse being paid out of this account as well as people out.
· (1540): tried to compensate emergency services employees with a differential but it had to be taken out and handled differently.
· Early Retirement: 74 positions, although they thought it would be higher.
· Committee requested a breakdown of programs & services in the relief accounts
· Day Care: Low income day care and Title XX day care. Low income day care is an indirect social services. Average income is $17,000 for low income.
· Medicaid: Ms. Carrano stated that every county outside of NYC has seen double digit increases in Medicaid. Historically, upstate counties lead the way by about 18 months. So, the bad news is that we will probably see an explosion in Medicaid in about 18 months.
· Task force looking at the issue of getting visiting nurses to all locations in the County
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
MINUTES – NOVEMBER 17, 2000
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· Jiggetts: state allowance for rent in the public assistance grants is not enough. The state has lost at every level its gone to in every court. Court says they need to raise the rental lines. What is in the budget only represents one quarter of the year.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Young, the meeting was adjourned at 11:05 a.m.