MINUTES
OTHERS: Budget Dept.: Kate Carrano, Leslie Bennett; C.E.’s Office: Bill Randolph; CBAC: Barbara Strauss; West/Put Legal Services: Lewis Creedmore, Barbara Finkelstein; My Sister’s Place: Julie Domonkos; Westchester Women’s Agenda: Toni Downes; BOL: Legislator Ryan, Legislator Bronz, Legislator Mosiello, Legislator Pinto, Legislator Maisano, Steve Bass, Tara Bernard, Sally Schecter, Barbara Dodds, Robert Boland, Chris Chang, Tina Seckerson
Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 9:25 a.m.
DISCUSSION:
2001 PROPOSED BUDGET: MEMORANDUM OF ADDITIONS:
Chairman Wishnie explained that all additions from the Legislators thus far have been put into a preliminary worksheet.
Chairman Wishnie explained that the Committee would go into recess to allow each caucus time to discuss the proposed additions worksheet. Recess was called at 9:35 a.m.
Committee reconvened at 6:52 p.m. and reviewed the proposed additions to the Operating, Revenue, Capital, Districts and deletions of expenditures.
Discussions resulted in $5.3 million in adds, almost $4 million in revenue, and deletion of expenses of $1.3 million.
On motion of Legislator Young, seconded by Legislator Latimer, the motion to delete the line Community Initiatives in the amount of $350.0 from adds to operating was carried by a vote of 9-0.
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS
MINUTES – DECEMBER 4, 2000
PAGE 2
Legislators Carsky and Latimer disclosed that since they serve on the Board of the Westchester Arts Council they will not be voting on that item.
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Noto, the motion to approve the Memorandum of Additions, (attached) was carried by a vote of 9-0 with Legislators Noto, Carsky, LaMotte and Swanson signing “without Prejudice”.
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Swanson, the meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.
December 4, 2000
Board of Legislators
County of Westchester
800 Michaelian Office Building
White Plains, New York 10601
Honorable Colleagues:
On Monday, October 16, 2000, County Executive Andrew J. Spano forwarded his proposed 2001 County Capital Budget which the Budget and Appropriations Committee of your Honorable Board immediately began analyzing and discussing. A month later, on Tuesday, November 14, 2000, the County Executive forwarded his proposed 2001 County Operating Budget. Having had the time to essentially complete its work on the proposed 2001 Capital Budget, your Committee on Budget and Appropriations was able to devote full attention to the proposed 2001 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.
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 2001 County Budget prior to its adoption. One thing, however, is certain: For the third consecutive year, the taxpayers of Westchester will realize a reduction in their property tax burden. The only question yet to be answered is how much that reduction will be. To make this as large as possible, your Committee will continue working until the start of the Budget Adoption Meeting to determine whether any further decreases in the budget can be responsibly made without compromising Westchester’s quality and equality of life.
As is its practice, 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, in keeping with your Honorable Board’s policy of open door democracy, it is the product of government decision-making truly shared by all those effected.
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. For the last four years, your Committee has made similar cautious and reasoned adjustments to revenues and these have proven prudent.
Through its issuance of this Memorandum, your Committee hereby complies with the Westchester County Charter. While obviously it believes the actions contained within this Memorandum are prudent and beneficial, that evaluation must ultimately be made by your Honorable Board. 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.
With these understandings, your Committee hereby recommends the following additions to your Honorable Board for its full deliberation and ultimate decision:
EXPENDITURES:
BOARD OF LEGISLATORS (100000)
Expenditure
Annual Regular (1010) $ 48,375
Employee Benefits (521650) 14,513
To add the position of Secretary to the
Chairman, Grade IX.
TOTAL BOARD OF LEGISLATORS $ 62,888
OFFICE FOR THE AGING (110500)
Expenditure:
Comprehensive Program for the Aging (4957) $ 50,000
To provide a guardian program for
indigent seniors.
__________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL OFFICE FOR THE AGING $ 50,000
OFFICE FOR WOMEN (110900)
Expenditure:
Contractual Services (4380) $ 55,000
To fund the Women’s Enterprise Project.
Contractual Services (4380) 60,000
To provide for legal services in matrimonial cases.
Contractual Services (4380) 10,000
To provide child care at the Yonkers Family Court.
Contractual Services (4380) 20,000
To fund a legal services clinic for moderate income
domestic violence victims.
Contractual Services (4380) 80,000
To provide various services for domestic violence victims.
Contractual Services 108,000
To fund My Sister’s Place for it’s general work
with battered and abused women and their
children and to enable it to provide legal services
for criminal investigations and transitional supportive
services at the County Jail.
Contractual Services 10,000
To provide funding for the Women’s Resource Center.
TOTAL OFFICE FOR WOMEN $ 343,000
PLANNING (190000)
Expenditure:
Technical Services (4420) $ 90,000
To fund legal services for the Love Westchester/Putnam
Initiative.
Technical Services (4420) 15,000
To provide funding for the Housing Action Council.
Technical services (4420) 15,000
To provide matching for the individual development
training initiative in housing.
TOTAL PLANNING $ 120,000
EMERGENCY SERVICES (200000)
Expenditure:
Annual Regular (1010) $ 65,030
Employee Benefits (521650) 19,509
To fund two Communications Operators at
Grade VII.
__________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL EMERGENCY SERVICES $ 84,539
SOCIAL SERVICES (228900)
Expenditure:
Indirect Services (5960) $1,200,000
To fund additional child care services.
Indirect Services (5960) 24,000
To provide additional funding for Food Patch.
Indirect Services (5960) 12,000
To provide additional funding for the
Child Abuse Prevention Center.
TOTAL SOCIAL SERVICES $1,236,000
MENTAL HEALTH (260000)
Expenditure:
Technical Services (4420) $ 6,000
To provide funding for a Cancer Support Team.
Technical Services (4420) 10,000
To provide supportive services to help youngsters
involved in court actions – CASA.
TOTAL MENTAL HEALTH $ 16,000
HEALTH (270000)
Expenditure:
Annual Regular (1010) $ 219,700
Employee Benefits (521650) 65,910
To fund five Health Inspectors Grade X.
Contractual Services (4380) 3,000
To provide funding to assist the Health Action Council.
Contractual Services (4380) 50,000
To help fund the Radiation and Public Health Project.
Neighborhood Health Centers (4370) 300,000
To provide a higher level of funding for the County’s
various health centers.
TOTAL HEALTH $ 638,610
CORRECTION (350000)
Expenditure:
Contractual Services (4380) $ 70,000
To provide for vocational and rehabilitational
services within the penitentiary.
__________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL CORRECTIONS $ 70,000
PUBLIC SAFETY (380000)
Expenditure
Annual Regular (1010) $ 90,420
Employee Benefits (521650) 28,934
To provide for two additional Police Officers Grade X.
TOTAL PUBLIC SAFETY $ 119,354
PROBATION (390000)
Expenditure:
Annual Regular (1010) $ 91,660
Employee Benefits (521650) 29,331
To fund two Probation Officer Grade XI.
________________________________________________________________________ TOTAL PROBATION $ 120,991
PARKS, RECREATION & CONSERVATION (420000)
Expenditure:
Annual Regular (1010) $ 116,415
Employee Benefits (521650) 34,925
To fund three Assistant Curators at the County’s
Nature Centers Grade IX.
__________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL PARKS $ 151,340
PARKS, RECREATION & CONSERVATION –
SOUTHERN PARKS CREW
Expenditure
Annual Regular (1010) $220,474
Employee Benefits (521650) 66,142
To provide for: one Senior Mechanic III,
Group X; one Assistant Park Superintendent,
Group VIII, one Senior Maintenance Mechanic I
(Equipment), Group VI, one Special Laborer,
Group V, one Motor Equipment Operator,
Group IV, and one Maintenance Laborer,
Group IV.
Hourly (1200) 10,000
To provide for additional personnel on
an as-needed basis.
Overtime (1400) 10,000
To fund any overtime expenses that might arise.
Replacement Equipment (2300) 1,550
To fund the replacement of any existing equipment.
Additional Equipment (2400) 8,500
To fund the purchase of any new equipment.
Automotive Supplies (3010) 1,000
To provide for needed automotive supplies.
Water (3180) 500
To provide for this necessity.
Utilities (3200) 2,500
To pay for these costs.
General Supplies (3240) 5,000
To cover the costs of various needed supplies.
Horticultural Supplies (3460) 1,000
To provide for these specialized supplies.
Repairs and Maintenance (4200) 3,000
To cover these on-going costs.
Rental & Taxes (4320) 2,000
To cover any of these costs that may be incurred.
Services by Telecommunications (5250) 409
To provide for these costs.
TOTAL PARKS – SOUTHERN CREW $ 332,075
PUBLIC WORKS (460000)
Expenditure:
Advance to Grants (4912) $ 2,000
To fund a drowsy driver safety program.
__________________________________________________________________________ TOTAL PUBLIC WORKS $ 2,000
MISCELLANEOUS (520000)
Expenditure:
Legal Aid (2085) $ 300,000
Invest In Kids (2081) 450,000
Crime Victims Assistance (2040) 25,000
Westchester Library System (2180) 185,000
Special Studies (2120) 180,000
Arts In Westchester Supplemental (2011) 300,000
Hudson River Museum Supplemental (2016) 100,000
Westchester Community Initiative (2173) 500,000
Property/Casualty Insurance 210,240
Non Recurring Expenses (4310) 85,000
To better reflect the funding needs of various items
within this diverse yet critical grouping.
__________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL MISCELLANEOUS $ 2,335,240
TOTAL EXPENDITURE ADDITIONS $ 5,682,037
RCP7E Croton Point Ballfields $ 900,000
This funding will allow for the completion of
this important recreational component of the
revitalization of Croton Point Park.
RP302 Boat Launch Ramp $ 100,000
This is a much-need project at Playland that
will enhance the County’s recreational
offerings at this historic site.
*** Traffic Control Program $ 85,000
This money will allow for the placement of
critically-needed traffic lights at Harney and
Scarsdale Roads, thereby increasing public safety.
*** Linden Street Pool Acquisition
and Renovation $ 2,000,000
This is funding for the County to acquire the Linden
Sreet Pool from Yonkers and renovate the facility
for community and other use.
*** Yonkers Waterfront Park Design $ 100,000
This allocation would allow for the design of a
waterfront park in Yonkers which would help spur
the revitalization of the waterfront area.
*** Yonkers Community Center $ 100,000
This funding would provide for a study of the
feasibility of the County establishing a Center for
education, training and other uses in a culturally
diverse area of its largest city.
SNR85 New Rochelle Sanitary Sewer District –
Sewer System Rehabilitation $ 21,700,000
This would fund the expansion and relocation
of sanitary sewer overflow facilities for this
sewer district.
BOO21 Michaelian Office Building Renovation $ 800,000
This would fund the conversion of space vacated by
the Budget Department into much-needed office and
meeting areas for the Board of Legislators.
*** Sewer Districts Facility Plans Study $ 400,000
In accordance with a request from the Budget
and Appropriations Committee, this would fund facility
plans for the Blind Brook, Mamaroneck, Ossining, and
New Rochelle Wastewater Treatment Plants.
*** Sewer Diversion $ 29,000,000
This expenditure, which is totally reimbursable, is
necessary to divert sewage from the watershed area,
thereby ensuring the public health and environmental
integrity of the region.
Refuse Disposal District No. 1 – Administration (607100)
Contractual Services (4380) $ 15,000
surrounding communities of County air, soil and
water monitoring at the Sprout Brook Ash Pit.
RB030 Legion Drive (CR#29) Mount Pleasant $ 1,120,000
This would expedite planned rehabilitation work
on this important area thoroughfare. The Town of Mount
Pleasant has passed a Resolution of its intention to assume
ownership and responsibility for the road once this work
is completed.
TOTAL CAPITAL BUDGET ADDITIONS $56,320,000
SPECIAL DISTRICTS
BLIND BROOK SEWER DISTRICT (600310)
Expenditure:
Insurance (4280) $ 2,000
To cover increased costs.
BRONX VALLEY SEWER DISTRICT (600410)
Expenditure:
Insurance (4280) 60
To cover increased costs.
HUTCHINSON VALLEY SEWER DISTRICT (600610)
Expenditure:
Insurance (4280) 300
To cover increased costs.
MAMARONECK VALLEY SEWER DISTRICT (600710)
Expenditure:
Insurance (4280) 22,530
To cover increased costs.
NEW ROCHELLE SEWER DISTRICT (600810)
Expenditure:
Insurance (4280) 13,040
To cover increased costs.
NORTH YONKERS SEWER DISTRICT (600910)
Expenditure:
Insurance (4280) 480
To cover increased costs.
SAW MILL VALLEY SEWER DISTRICT (601010)
Expenditure:
Insurance (4280) 1,150
To cover increased costs.
SOUTH YONKERS SEWER DISTRICT (600110)
Expenditure:
Insurance (4280) 130
To cover increased costs.
NORTH YONKERS PUMPING STATION (601310)
Expenditure:
Insurance (4280) 720
To cover increased costs.
YONKERS JOINT TREATMENT PLANT (601410)
Expenditure:
Insurance (4280) 29,020
To cover increased costs.
OSSINING SEWER DISTRICT (601510)
Expenditure:
Insurance (4280)
7,450
To cover increased costs.
PEEKSKILL SEWER DISTRICT (601610)
Expenditure:
Insurance (4280) 6,330
To cover increased costs.
PORT CHESTER SEWER DISTRICT (601710)
Expenditure:
Insurance (4280) 1,500
To cover increased costs.
COUNTY WATER DISTRICT NO, 2 (605210)
Expenditure:
Insurance (4280)
To cover increased costs. 50
COUNTY WATER DISTRICT NO. 3 (605310)
Expenditure:
Insurance (4280)
To cover increased costs. 1,350
REFUSE DISPOSAL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION (607100)
Expenditure:
Insurance (4280) 3,650
To cover increased costs.
TOTAL SPEACIAL DISTRICTS $ 89,760