MINUTES
OTHERS: C.E.’S Office: Bill Randolph, Larry Schwartz; Budget Dept: Leslie Bennett; Robert Kopenhaver, Arthur Vietro; Journal News: Keith Eddings; North County News: Neal Rentz; Hudson River Museum: Dennis Power; Westchester Library System: Mary Rinato Berman; WHCC/Coalition: Carlos Bernard; Westchester Hispanic Coalition: Carmen Castellanos; Music Conservatory of Westchester: Lisa Deutsch; Arts Council: Janet Langsam, Joanne Mongelli; Child Care Council: Lottie Harris; WWA: Toni Downes; BOL: Legislator Ryan, Legislator Bronz, Legislator Maisano, Barbara Dodds, Tara Bernard, Rafael Vega, Sally Schecter, Chris Chang, Robert Boland, Tina Seckerson
Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 9:40 a.m.
BUDGET DELETIONS:
Worksheets with regard to budget deletions were distributed.
At 9:52 a.m. the meeting was recessed to the call of the Chair to give the caucuses an opportunity to review the worksheets.
The meeting resumed at 4:20 p.m. Consensus deletions were reviewed as well as the Minority Report.
On motion of Legislator Latimer, seconded by Legislator Abinanti, the motion to approve the Deletions Report (see below), with the Minority Report (on file) attached, was carried by a vote of 10-0 with Legislators Noto, Swanson, Young, Kaplowitz, LaMotte, Stewart-Cousins, Carsky, Latimer and Abinanti signing “Without Prejudice”.
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS REPORT
CONCERNING THE 2002 COUNTY BUDGET
Honorable Board of Legislators
County of Westchester
800 Michaelian Office Building
White Plains, New York 10601
Honorable Colleagues:
On Monday, October 15, 2001, County Executive Andrew J. Spano forwarded his proposed 2002 County Capital Budget that the Budget and Appropriations Committee of your Honorable Board immediately began analyzing and discussing. A month later, on Thursday, November 15, 2001, the County Executive forwarded his proposed 2002 County Operating Budget. Having had the time to essentially complete its work on the proposed 2002 Capital Budget, your Committee on Budget and Appropriations was able to devote full attention to the proposed 2002 Operating Budget upon its arrival.
Your Committee held two hearings on the proposed budget, the first on Monday evening, November 19, 2001 in Eastchester and the second on Tuesday evening, November 27, 2001 in Bedford. Further, your Honorable Board held the public hearing required by our Charter on Thursday evening, November 29, 2001, in the Little Theater of the Westchester County Center. These hearings allowed hundreds of people to express their views on all aspects of the budget as proposed.
In addition, your Committee has benefited from the testimony of Commissioners and heads of major departments, as well as from analysis of the proposed budgets by the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee and by our auditors, Bennett Kielson Storch De Santis and Company, which presented its report to your Committee on Friday, December 7, 2001.
On Monday, December 3, 2001, pursuant to Section 167.81 of the Westchester County Charter as amended by Local Law 8-1994, your Committee on Budget and Appropriations filed a memorandum of proposed additions to the proposed 2002 Budget. Having further considered the proposed Budget and the needs of those who live and work in Westchester, your Committee is recommending a decrease in proposed spending by $16,077,101, reducing the tax levy to a total of 4.75%. This means that your Committee has cut the County Executive's proposed County property tax hike. While your Committee would have liked to cut even more, prudence and responsibility dictated otherwise lest programs that either contribute to Westchester's quality of life or improve the lot of those among us who are in need be jeopardized.
With this in mind, your Committee commends the following for your consideration.
DELETIONS TO BUDGET
OPERATING BUDGET REVENUES
Finance (150000)
PILOTS (9022) $ 200,000
Tobacco Settlement (9591) 100,000
.
This adjustment will allow for a
more accurate reflection of this
anticipated revenue.
____________________________________________________________
Total Finance $ 300,000
Corrections (350000)
Departmental Income (9050) $ 175,000
Telephones
___________________________________________________________________________
Total Corrections $ 175,000
Public Works (460000)
Interdepartmental Revenue (463200) (9508) $ 19,998
Departmental Revenue (9050) 5,770
Interdepartmental Revenue (463400) (9508) 252,835
Departmental Revenue (9050) 423,250
This is based on information
received from the Board’s auditors._______________________________________________________________________ Total Public Works $ 701,853
TOTAL REVENUE DELETIONS $1,176,853
OPERATING BUDGET EXPENDITURES
BOARD OF LEGISLATORS (100000)
Expenditure:
Annual Regular (1010) $ 230,700
Employee Benefits (521650) 69,210
To eliminate the position of 3 Program Coordinators
Grade XIII-5.
________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL BOARD OF LEGISLATORS $ 299,910
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (110700)
Contractual Services (4380) $ 40,000
This reflects a cost-saving scaling back of certain outside
Economic Development functions.
_______________________________________________________________________
TOTAL OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT $ 40,000
OFFICE FOR DISABLED (110600)
Para Transit (4925) $ 100,000
This reflects a slow down in the growth of
the population served.
________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL OFFICE FOR DISABLED $ 100,000
FINANCE (150000)
Annual Regular (1010) $ 70,925
This eliminates certain vacant positions in this department.
_____________________________________________________________________
TOTAL FINANCE $ 70,925
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (160000)
Annual Regular (1010) $ 175,000
This eliminates certain vacant positions in this department.
Equipment Additional (2400) $ 200,000
This reflects a deferral of certain data disaster recovery
operations.
Printing (3600) $ 50,000
This reflects a reduction in the number of copies of
certain county publications printed.
Equipment Rental (4070) $ 100,000
This reflects a deferral of certain data disaster recovery
operations.
Interest on Bonds (4463) $ 90,031
This reflects lowered interest rates and is included
on the advice of the Board's auditors.
______________________________________________________________________
TOTAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY $ 615,031
LAW (180000)
Printing (3600) $ 4,000
This reflects a reduction in the number of copies of
certain county publications printed.
________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL LAW $ 4,000
PLANNING (190000)
Annual Regular (1010) $ 142,440
This reflects the transfer of the Director of the
Water Agency XVI to the Department of Environmental
Facilities and the elimination of a Planner X-1.
______________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL PLANNING $ 142,440
EMERGENCY SERVICES (200000)
Annual Regular (1010) $ 42,865
This reflects the elimination of a Fire Inspector X-3
Additional Equipment (2400) $ 20,000
To eliminate certain equipment that is deemed not
essential at this time.
________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL EMERGENCY SERVICES $ 62,865
SOCIAL SERVICES (220000)
Services by DPW (5280) $ 37,931
Less State Aid 24,655
13,276
This is deleted on the advice of the Board's auditors.
_________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL SOCIAL SERVICES $ 13,276
SENIOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES (240000)
Comprehensive Program for the Aging (4957) $ 40,000
Civil Services for Elderly
This reflects a reduction in these services.
__________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL SENIOR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES $ 40,000
CONSUMER PROTECTION (250000)
Services by DPW (5280) $ 146
This is deleted upon advice of the Board's auditors.
____________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL CONSUMER PROTECTION $ 146
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH (260000)
Annual Regular (1010) $ 40,000
Hiring Delays
Retirement (1650) $ 14,648
Less State Aid 29,737
($ 15,089)
These rates are revised upon advice of the Board's auditors.
Rental & Taxes (4320) $ 3,718
This deletion is made upon the advice of the Board's auditors.
_______________________________________________________________________
TOTAL COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH $ 28,629
HEALTH:
SEIT (4534) $ 818,000
Related Services (4535) $ 645,000
SCD-4410 Tuition (4538) $ 257,000
Early Intervention (4541) $ 1,100,000
$ 2,820,000
Less State Aid 1,574,000
$ 1,246,000
These various health-related deletions are made upon
advice of the Board's auditors.
Service by DPW (5280) $ 2,097
This reflects a reduction in service rendered to the department by
the Department of Public Works.
_______________________________________________________________________
TOTAL HEALTH $ 1,248,097
LABS & RESEARCH (310000)
Equipment Additional (2400) $ 80,000
This deletes equipment deemed non-priority.
Service by DPW (5280) $ 30,738
This reflects a reduction in service rendered to the department by
the Department of Public Works and is made upon advice of the
Board's auditors.
______________________________________________________________________
TOTAL LABS & RESEARCH $ 110,738
CORRECTIONS (350000)
Annual Regular (1010) $ 29,880
This eliminates the vacant position of Account Clerk VI-1
Service by DPW (5280)
$ 196,537
This reflects a reduction in service rendered to the department by
the Department of Public Works.
Contractual (4380) $ 200,000
This relects a cost-saving scaling back of outside services.
______________________________________________________________________
TOTAL CORRECTIONS $ 426,417
PUBLIC SAFETY:
Annual Regular (1010) $ 1,708,575
This reduces by 16 the requested number of additional
police officers IX-5.
General Supplies (3240)
$ 83,865
This reflects a cost-saving reduction in non-essential supplies.
_______________________________________________________________________
TOTAL PUBLIC SAFETY $ 1,792,440
PARKS, RECREATION & CONSERVATION (420000)
Hourly (1200) $ 150,000
This reflects a reduction in the time of hourly workers.
Retirement (1650) $ 14,344
This reflects revised rates for retirement benefits.
Debt Service (4463) $ 27,886
This is deleted upon advice of the Board's auditors.
_____________________________________________________________________
TOTAL PARKS, RECREATION & CONSERVATION $ 192,230
TRANSPORTATION (440000)
Utilities (3200) $ 200,000
Deleted upon the advice of the Board's auditors.
Bus Operating Assistance (4924) $ 300,000
Deleted upon the advice of the Board's auditors.
Services by DPW (5280) $ 3,504
This reflects a reduction in service rendered to the department by
the Department of Public Works.
______________________________________________________________________
TOTAL TRANSPORTATION $ 503,504
PUBLIC WORKS (460000)
Contractual Services (4380) $ 93,000
This reflects a cost-saving scaling back of outside services.
Utilities (463200) (3200) $ 130,000
Deleted upon the advice of the Board's auditors.
Utilities (463400) (3200) $ 662,500
Deleted upon the advice of the Board's auditors.
_______________________________________________________________________
TOTAL PUBLIC WORKS $ 885,500
MISCELLANEOUS (520000)
Certiorari (2020) $ 300,000
6N Contribution (4937) $ 1,000,000
Non Recurring (4310) $ 250,000
FICA (1651) $ 400,000
Retirement (1650) $ 805,000
Revised rates)
Health Insurance (1680) $ 1,000,000
Cash to Capital (2200) $ 500,000
W.C. Extension Service (2170) $ 109,000
Level of 2001 budget
Crime Victims Assistance Agency (2040) $ 170,460
Transfer to Probation
Resident’s Tuition (2115) $ 350,000
(BKS)
Educational Challenge Grant (2058) $ 50,000
Insurance (4280) $ 500,000
Lower insurance
Upon careful deliberation and discussions with the
Board's auditors, your Committee believes these
deletions to be prudent.
_____________________________________________________________________
TOTAL MISCELLANEOUS $ 5,434,460
DEBT SERVICE (510000)
Interest on Bonds (4463) $ 419,083
Deleted upon the advice of the Board's auditors.
.
TOTAL DEBT SERVICE $ 419,083
TOTAL OPERATING DELETIONS $ 12,429,691
CAPITAL BUDGET DELETIONS:
Tuckahoe Road – Pine Bridge Road $ 110,000
Pleasantville Road $ 100,000
Byram Lake Road – Weaver Street $ 110,000
These projects have been moved to the Department of
Public Works non-recurring account.
_________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL CAPITAL BUDGET DELETIONS $ 320,000
SPECIAL DISTRICTS OPERATING DELETIONS:
601610 Peekskill Sanitary Sewer District
Cash to Capital (4450) $ 100,000
To reduce tax levy.
__________________________________________________________________________
TOTAL SPECIAL DISTRICTS OPERATING $ 100,000
COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Having completed its work on the proposed 2002County Budget, your Committee wishes to offer some remarks and advice stemming from its experiences.
Although it may have differed on various parts of this budget, and on the size of a tax increase, your Committee still wants to commend the Administration for its hard work and for its continuing efforts to make the budget more accessible to and understandable for Westchester residents.
Your Committee also wants to thank the members of the public who have become increasingly more involved in the day-to-day monitoring of the budget and in the budget adoption process. This growth in citizen participation has broadened your Committee’s focus and has helped to deepen its deliberations. The entire County has benefited from this partnership between government and its people.
In noting public involvement, the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee, an outstanding group of volunteers who contribute time, talent and invaluable advice must again be singled out. We are grateful for their contribution to the budget process.
As has been the case over the past few years, the members of your Committee have set aside the bias of party affiliation to honestly debate very difficult issues and arrive at a consensus. Our determination to serve the public good continues to ultimately place any divisions we might have in the background where they belong. The cooperation forged by a shared commitment has energized your Committee throughout the year and has enabled it to continually keep in mind the ultimate goal of enhancing the dynamism and compassion that is Westchester.
The year ahead promises to be a challenging one. Westchester and other New York counties continue to be to bear an ever-increasing burden of unfunded Federal and State mandates. Washington and Albany cannot continue to make their financial conditions brighter by making those of America's counties bleaker. It is time for them to accept economic responsibility for the programs they have legislated.
On a related matter, we all share the grief brought about by the terrorist attack on our nation on September 11, 2001. We also must share the responsibilities of making America safer and more secure. Westchester, like other counties, acknowledges that, but it must implore higher levels of government to realize our limited resources and to provide greater financial assistance of the implementation of security measures. Your committee pledges to work with all levels of our County government to get this critical message to the appropriate officials of our state and federal governments.
In conclusion, this budget is a product of a depressed national economy, additional unfunded mandates, and the results of the horrific terrorist attack on our nation.
We have presented a County Budget for 2002 that is balanced, reasonable and most of all, responsible. As we prepare for 2002, under adverse economic conditions, we also are cognizant of potential continued difficulties in 2003. With all factors considered, we are presenting a budget that contains a tax increase, although less than that proposed by the County Executive, it is an increase based on reality.
Dated: December 7, 2001
White Plains, New York
COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further items for discussion, on motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator LaMotte, the meeting was adjourned at 2:10 a.m.