COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPORIATONS

MINUTES

DECEMBER 2, 2002

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:      Wishnie, Abinanti, Alvarado, Bronz, Latimer, Kaplowitz, Stewart-Cousins

 

LEGISLATORS

PRESENT:                        Ryan

 

 

OTHERS PRESENT:         CE: B. Randolph, A. Newman; Budget: K. Carrano, A. Vietro, J. Arnett, Vernon Huff, A.  F. Piskorowski; District Attorney’s Office: J. Pirro, L. Potti, P. D’Imperio; Emergency Services: P. Kelly, A. Sutton; Information Technology: N. Jacknis, R. Elliott, K. Foster; My Sister’s Place: J. Domonkos; West. Women’s Advisory Board: V. Lutz, M. Rossi, R. Wax; WLS: S. Friedman, M. Berman, B. Finkelstein; West. Arts Council: J. Mongelli; Greenburgh Nature Center: W. Lawyer; Gannett: K. Eddings; BOL: B. Boland, R. Indelicato, S. Schecter, S. Vanderberg, B. Dodds.

 

Chairman Wishnie called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m.

 

On the motion of Mr. Kaplowitz, seconded by Mrs. Stewart-Cousins, the minutes for 11/18/02, 11/22/02, 11/25/02, 11/26/02 were approved, 5-0.

 

DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE:

 

Mrs. Pirro said this budget reflects a $2.7 million dollar return to taxpayers.  The office boasts increases in both prosecutions and investigations, and an outstanding conviction rate.  They are making efforts to find alternatives to prison for non-violent felons, especially drug addicts.  Due to their continued prosecution of violent felons and pursuit of more cold cases they expect an increase in prison numbers.

 

The Labs & Research Department is essential to their work, as criminal investigations now require more sophisticated scientific tests, especially cold and drug cases.  Backlogs increase the risk of defendants being released and can jeopardize cases.

 

Staffing

The Office has 1 support staff and 4 ADA vacancies that it would like to fill as soon as possible. 

 

Grants 

The Office has taken the initiative to secure both State and Federal grants, continuously meeting the requirements necessary to maintain them.

 

Line 4912, Advance to Grants- a budget will be provided for Committee review.

 

A detailed accounting of activity pertaining to asset forfeiture as recorded by the auditors will be provided for Committee review.

 

CAIT program

Cuts (from the DSS side) were made in order to facilitate the addition of State Police thereby expanding the program.

 

EMERGENCY SERVICES:

 

Although still evolving, Commissioner Kelly felt the Department has been very effective. 

 

Staffing

The department has grown, and finds the use of hourly employees to be financially prudent.  Department of Emergency Management has grown due to increased threats from smallpox, anthrax and terrorism.

 

Training Center

Greatest problem facing the Training Center is the occasional lack of space for classes.  The Department now offers weekend time slots to offset this.  Hourly employees hold classes.

 

Departmental Revenue

The increase in this line is due to the receipt of more inter-departmental charges, funds from State & outside usage fees (which have been increased), and the tapping of grants.

 

Information Technology:

 

The 2002 budget is down by $2.5 million from 2002.  30% salary increases are a reflection of the cost of living.  Equipment costs are down due to the removal of mainframes from the County’s computer systems.  The Department’s responsibilities have also been affected by the both the hiring and purchasing freezes.

 

Departmental Revenue

The line reflects a $2 million dollar inconsistency and will be reviewed by the Budget Department.

 

A breakdown of Lines 1010 and 4070 will be provided for review.

Staffing

In response to the concern that the 21 abolished positions could have helped the Department expedite some of their numerous contracts, Dr. Jacknis replied the department makes every attempt to utilize employees instead of outside agencies, but has been affected by the hiring freeze as well as a very selective hiring process. 

 

County Clerk’s Office

Dr. Jacknis felt the upgrades made to the County Clerk’s computer system was necessary and will help the staff to be more effective.

 

Overtime

The Budget Department will go over line 1400 with the BOL staff.

 

Technical Services

A list of projects relating to this line will be provided for Committee review.

 

In order to prepare the Board of Legislators Memorandum of Additions, the Committee was recessed at 11:09 a.m. until the call of the Chair.

 

Chair Wishnie reconvened the Committee at 9:50 p.m.

 

The floor was opened for discussion of the Memorandum of Additions prepared by Committee on Budget & Appropriation’s staff over the course of the day for the consideration of the Legislators. 

 

Mr. Latimer said Adds Day represents various things unique to the Westchester County’s Budget process and will not find in local, State or Federal governments.  It provides a final opportunity for the Board to consider the maximum revenues and expenditures for every part of budget.  The uncertainty of a significant increase in sales tax revenue weighs heavily on this particular budget.

 

Mr. Latimer made the following two motions:

 

1st Motion: Move to add to the Board of Legislators’ report, a list of additions to revenue.  Essential to this, a maximum estimated revenue of $91 million dollars that would be generated by a 1% percent sales tax increase.  This motion and those who support it do not guarantee the money will materialize, in the event that it does not, it will be removed from the budget line and the budget will be revised accordingly.

 

For the record, Mr. Wishnie said the auditors were able to recommend other revenues in addition to the proposed 1% sales tax, among them:

 

Sales Tax                          $1.5 million dollars

Hotel Tax                          $100,000 dollars

Tobacco Settlement           $300,000 dollars

Investment Income             $200,000 dollars

Pilots                                $300,000 dollars

 

The motion, seconded by Mr. Abinanti was carried 7-0.

 

2nd Motion: To return expenditures to the 2002 level.  Adding back to the budget several categories of expenditures, which were cut in the County Executive’s budget as it was submitted to the Board of Legislators.  Categories which cover services as disparate as Neighborhood Health Centers, the Department of Transportation and particular program organizations.  This decision is contingent on the determination that going forward, deletions to these or any other category will be subject to the availability of revenues.

 

The motion, seconded by Mr. Abinanti was carried 6-1, with Mr. Kaplowitz voting in the negative.

 

Mrs. Bronz said restoring the cuts affords the Board the opportunity to revisit all areas and determine which can judiciously be considered for deletions.  

 

Mr. Kaplowitz felt the action taken would only deepen the projected 28.6% property tax increase.  He felt the chances of getting the sales tax increase were questionable at best and was skeptical the Board had a contingency to make up the revenue if it was not allowed.  He proposed a restoration less 10%; confident this would establish a baseline of commitment to programs and a good faith restoration of services to residents creating a balance between the reinstatement of programs and necessary fiscal prudence.

 

Mr. Wishnie said the Board of Legislators not only had a responsibility to protect Westchester County’s citizens but an obligation to maintain its Triple A Bond rating.  He was confident the Board would make whatever cuts were essential and add whatever taxes were required to preserve the integrity of the County.

 

With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 10:00 p.m.