COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPORIATONS
MINUTES
NOVEMBER 26, 2002
MEMBERS PRESENT: Wishnie, Kaplowitz, Stewart-Cousins
LEGISLATORS
PRESENT: Rogowsky
OTHERS PRESENT: CE: B. Randolph, A. Newman; Budget: K. Carrano, A. Vietro, J. Arnett, D. Cabrera, L. Bennett, F. Piskorowski; Consumer Protection: R. Linkowski, E. Price; Labs & Research: L. Fasnacht, M. Hyland; Planning: J. Lannert, M. Massari, J. Mulligan; Wet/Putnam Legal Services: L. Creekmore; BOL: B. Boland, S. Schecter, S. Vanderberg, B. Dodds.
Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 9:19 a.m.
Projected budget for 2003 reflects no tax levy and a $20,000 surplus. This was achieved by eliminating one inspector for Weights and Measures (a position frozen in the2002 budget), an annual increase in fees for licensing home improvement contractors and increasing penalty revenues through increased enforcement of the consumer code.
They feel the Department will need to increase their staff by one, at the very least in the next year.
The 2003 projected budget bears evidence of being impacted by several extenuating factors. The Department experienced heavy usage by NYC post 9/11/02, the 2002 budget was based on this revenue (which has since dried up), and the 2003 budget reflects this change. The budget also reflects savings in Contractual Services.
Mr. Kaplowitz felt there has not been an adequate return for the large amount of money invested in the Department’s Capital Projects. It was suggested a marketing approach to secure revenue be explored. Either assigning someone in house or hiring a consultant through the Technical Service line to explore the feasibility. Securing Federal Grants was also suggested.
The Department has 6 vacancies they are trying to fill; it has abolished 1 mandated position as a result of restructuring and is looking to add 5 positions to keep up with forensic lab work it has traditionally done for local municipalities.
The department has 24 Section 8 employees and 32 CDBG employees. Of the 32 Planning employees 14 are straight on the budget the others are “ hybrid” with incomes supplemented by grants for environmental work. There are several vacancies which are pertinent fill in order to keep up with the workload produced now that SEQRs are mandated for most proposals.
Recently under threat of elimination, the County Executive was able to gather a lot of support on this issue and secure a small grant increase for the next 3 years.
There is a backlog but all granted money has been contracted. Department is looking into why Grant was not awarded for upcoming budget.
Pacing has been slow due to the Department’s efforts to ensure this was and remains, a collaborative effort with the local communities due to benefit from this project. Ms. Lannert will ask that the Administration respectfully submit a written copy of the agreement to the Committee for review.
As reflected in their Summary of Findings- Revenue, Mr. DeSantis gave the following projections for the 2003 budget:
Hotel Tax: An increase by $100,000 dollars
Payments in Lieu of Taxes: An increase by $300,000 dollars
* will review numbers submitted by smith Barney with Budget Department
Interest on Investments: An increase by $200,000 dollars
CORRECTIONS:
Inmates in other Institutions: An increase by $237,000 dollars
State Ready: An increase by $25,000 dollars
SCAAP: An increase by $500,000 dollars
Pay Telephone: A decrease by $200,000 dollars
Mrs. Carrano gave the following breakdown of the miscellaneous budget:
Lines 2011 and 2016–Adjustments must be made due to an oversight, a letter will be submitted through the Chair.
Line 2080- Has gone down drastically, but will rise if State aid payments begin to lag.
Line 2110-$250, 000 for consultant review, matching funds for the agency
Line 2120-Finger printing for hourly employees, specifically parks
Line 2172-International portion has been canceled but will be picked up by IDA if necessary
Line 4280-Gone up due to increase in insurance premiums
Line 4937- Line up as a result of actuary review
Line 4310- Second year out of budget must begin funding or face penalties
Theses items are a direct component of payroll, a result of the Country’s health care crisis and pending Union negotiations. Mrs. Carrano will give a breakdown of the exact numbers.
Due to expected inclement weather conditions, these minutes reflect those Departments which were to be taken up at the 11/27/02 Committee meeting.
On the motion of Mr. Wishnie, seconded by Mrs. Stewart-Cousins, the meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m.