MINUTES
OTHERS: C.E.’S Office: Bill Randolph, Larry Schwartz; DEF: Edward Torhan, Joseph Phelan; BKS: Les Storch, Nick DeSantis, Robin, Alan Kassay, Susan Friend, Domenick Consolo; IT: Norm Jacknis, R. Allen Elliott; Public Safety: Commissioner D’Aliso, Martin McGlynn; WWA: Carlla Horton, Julie Domonkos; Budget Dept: Kate Carrano, Meredith Waltman, Leslie Bennett, Vernon Huff; Journal News: Keith Eddings; Emergency Services: Pat Kelly; CBAC: Barbara Strauss; BOL: Legislator Ryan, Legislator Bronz, Barbara Dodds, Tara Bernard, Rafael Vega, Sally Schecter, Chris Chang, Robert Boland, Tina Seckerson
Chairman Wishnie
called the meeting to order at
BUDGET TRANSFERS:
A. A Resolution transferring funds within the Department of Environmental Facilities Water District #1 Operating Budget in the amount of $200,000.
· On
· The pipeline was fixed and subsequently checked by the Health Department.
· The cost of this repair was funded from Non-recurring repairs and Replacement account and other savings within Water District #1.
· On
· The City of
· The pipeline is over 100 years old and will require repairs from time to time.
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 10-0.
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B. A resolution transferring funds within the 2001 Operating Budget Miscellaneous Budget from Certiorari Proceedings to the In Rem Proceedings account in the amount of $109,382.
· This is the second claim in 2001 submitted by the City of Mt. Vernon and covers an additional 13 properties foreclosed.
· Earlier this year the Committee approved a transfer of funds in the amount of $138,000 for similar claims.
On motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Young, the motion to approve this item was carried by a vote of 10-0.
· Representatives from BKS were in to discuss their review and recommendations for the 2002 Operating Budget, which included the following:
· This budget requires an alternative approach. Have to look at policies and look at net cost to the county.
· $1.3 billion budget, increase of $89.4 million. Property tax levy increase of 9.5%. A
· substantial portion of the $89 million is in personal services. Requirement for additional security has added in excess of $12 million to the gross cost, but charges to other governments and funds reduce the impact on the county cost to less than $3.5 million.
· Other personnel services costs in the Departments of Correction, Probation, Parks, Recreation and Conservation, and Public Works aggregate $7.6 million with no additional reimbursements.
· Employee benefit category has increased approximately $13 million due to the increase in personnel service costs, combined with the substantial expected increase in retirement costs and a continuing escalation in health benefit costs.
· Other significant changes include net increases in DSS of $6.7 million (MMIS account); Education and Transportation of Handicapped Children Program consumes approximately $7 million of the increase in County net costs in the Department of Health; and the increase in Bus Operating Assistance of $4.7 has not been offset by a fare increase.
· The increase in DPW represents payments due on the County’s lease of court facilities from the Dormitory Authority.
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Revenues: Auditor’s Recommendations:
· Sales Tax: Budgetary estimate of $263.3 million be reduced by $1.5 million to $261.8 million.
· Hotel Tax: Budget estimate of $4.95 million be reduced by $100,000 to $4.85 million, a level just slightly above their 2001 projection.
· Auto Use Tax: Budget estimate for 2002 should be increased by $135,000.
· Payments in Lieu of Taxes: Budget estimate for 2002 should be reduced by $200,000 to $1.8 million.
· PRC: only change is
at the
·
· Tobacco Settlement: based on actual receipts to date as well as in neighboring counties they agree with the estimate, however the amount has not been reduced by the operating costs of the Westchester Tobacco Asset Securitization Corporation, therefore they proposed a reduction of $100,000.
Expenditures: Auditor’s Recommendations:
· Retirement Costs: Project retirement expenditures to be $9.93 million, $375,000 less than amount contained in the proposed budget.
· Health Benefits: Reduction of approximately $1.322 million (in the areas of payments to health providers, prescription drug costs and dental claims) to the Miscellaneous Budget.
· Self Insurance Fund-6N: county should consider reducing current year contributions and utilize retained earnings.
· Debt Services: Propose a total reduction of $537,000 in General Fund debt service expenditures.
· DSS: The Department proposes a budget for 2002 of $101.64 million, auditor’s projection of $98.8 million is lower by approximately $2.84 million. They calculate reimbursements from State and Federal sources to total $56.59 million. This reflects a conservative 15.7% rate for Medicaid and third party reimbursements for early intervention. The rate had risen from an average of 12.5% in earlier years to 19% in 1998. The auditor’s calculations indicate a net tax levy of $42.198 million, which is $1.246 million less than the tax levy proposed by the department.
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· Conclusion: Those that observe and monitor government fiscal practices often comment on the importance of long range planning. They have indicated that the practice of long range planning most often occurs in periods of prosperity, but in the face of diminishing resources, the practice is discarded. The justification for discontinuance is the cost benefit analysis. The auditors propose that, in these times, long range planning becomes indispensable. They recommend that the Board not lose sight that the decisions today may have implications which extend to future boards and counsel the board to re-institute the preparation of the multi-year plan that has proven useful to assist in the long range planning needs of the county.
Department of Public Safety:
· Commissioner D’Aliso reported that he was eliminating 19 of the Police Officers positions he requested, dropping the number from 78 to 59 and saving $2.3 million.
· There was a discussion with regard to the new positions being requested at the Airport for security and what will happen to these officers if the Airport is no longer under county control. The Commissioner stated that the numbers would be absorbed fairly quickly due to the scale of the retirement age which would cause a turnover.
· They anticipate that half of the officers hired at the Airport will be experienced officers.
Department of Emergency Services:
· Deputy Sutton reported that the County is required to do code enforcement. Since 1983, inspections have been mandated by law. Currently inspections are not being done which would give the state the authority to come in and perform them.
· They want to hire 4 people. Currently there is one person in the department qualified to do the inspections but his job scope and title have changed thereby leaving him no time to do the inspections. This person would supervise the new people. Would like to hire the new people on a broader base.
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· There was a discussion with regard to putting the new people into another department to get possible reimbursement. The money is going to be funneled into emergency management services. The only reimbursement currently given is for clean-up, environmental concerns)
· Deputy Commissioner Sutton will be in charge of the Strike Team.
· The biggest concern from volunteers is that the County s going to start a paid fire department and get rid of the volunteer firefighters.
Department of Information Technology:
· There was a discussion with regard to new positions and software.
· Dr. Jacknis reminded the committee that technology results in productivity increases.
MINUTES:
On motion of Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator
Carsky, the motion to approve the Minutes of
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of
Legislator Abinanti, seconded by Legislator Carsky, the meeting was adjourned
at