| COUNTY SETS 2005 BUDGET TARGETS AT 2004 LEVELS By unanimous vote, the Legislature approved a resolution that will hold targets for 2005 budgets for County departments and County-funded not-for-profit agencies at the 2004 levels. Any increase in salary or fringe benefit costs for County employees will not be borne by the departments as in past years, but will be allocated from the County's general fund. All of the County's labor contracts are up for renegotiation this year, so exact costs of salary and fringes are unknown. Any requests for funding above the target levels will be identified as "over-target requests" by the departments and agencies, whose 2005 budget requests are due at the beginning of August. Contacts: Michael Koplinka-Loehr, Chair, Budget and Capital Committee, 257-2329; County Administrator Stephen Whicher, 274-5551. LANE ASSESSMENT RESOLUTION FAILS A majority of nine Legislators voted down a member-filed resolution put forward by Michael Lane of Dryden that would have set a hearing on a change in the timing of County property assessments. Lane proposed increasing the re-assessment cycle from every year, the way it is currently done, to every three years, arguing that property owners need a break from the rising assessments that have affected many. Assessment Director Valeria Coggin said that a three-year assessment cycle would increase inequities among property owners. Several Legislators opposed the resolution because it did not address the real problem, which they said is spending and state-mandated expenses. Contacts: Legislator Michael Lane, 844-8440; Assessment Director Valeria Coggin, 274-5517. TODD REFERS COUNTY EXECUTIVE RESOLUTION TO COMMITTEE Legislator Thomas Todd said he knew his member-filed resolution asking for the establishment of an elected County executive would fail and referred it to the Government Operations Committee. Under the current structure, the top management job, County Administrator, is appointed. Todd and some fellow Republicans have argued to change that structure to an elected county executive. Saying he would like to see the issue taken to a popular vote this November, Todd encouraged the County's Government Operations Committee, which has been studying the pros and cons of a change, to make its report soon. Switching to a county executive form of government would a require approval by the Legislature of an amendment to the County charter, which would then be subject to a popular vote in a general election. Contacts: Thomas Todd, 533-7350; Michael Lane, Chair, Government Operations Committee, 844-8440. LEGISLATURE ALLOWS CONSERVATIVE USE OF UNSPENT FUNDS The Legislature approved allocation of about $450,000 of unspent departmental funds - out of nearly $1.5 million available - allowing various departments to spend the funds this year on specific projects and purchases, or in some cases, to maintain staff levels. About $1 million of what the County calls "rollover" now remains and can be allocated to departments in future years, used to offset increased expenses in the 2005 budget, or can be put into the County's general fund for reallocation. Contacts: Michael Koplinka-Loehr, Chair, Budget and Capital Committee, 257-2329; County Administrator Stephen Whicher, 274-5551. PARK FELLOW, COURTESY OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY, TO HELP AIR SERVICE TASK FORCE Barbara Blanchard reported that the Air Service Task Force, which is studying the difficulties of reduced income and passenger usage of the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport, will have the full-time assistance of a Park Fellow from Cornell University. Cornell is picking up the cost of retaining the recent MBA graduate for six months. Contact: Legislator Barbara Blanchard, 277-1374. FIRST CORNELL/COUNTY MEETING VERY POSITIVE, REPORTS ADMINISTRATOR Earlier today, the newly formed Cornell University/Tompkins County Working Group met for the first time. The working group's purpose is to look at items of concern and mutual benefit to the County and the university. County Administrator Stephen Whicher reported that the meeting was very positive and that the parties will be following up on a number of topics including the local need for affordable housing, looking for ways to lower the cost of prescription drugs, and health insurance issues for uninsured dependents of Cornell students. Contact: County Administrator Stephen Whicher, 274-5551. GRANT WILL BE USED TO HELP WITH LOW-INCOME TRANSPORTATION The Legislature unanimously approved the use of a 100 percent federal grant (no local match required) to help very low-income workers with transportation needs. Between now and March 31, 2005, the Department of Social Services will receive $210,199, most of which will pay for such items as car loans and repairs, insurance, and fuel cards to help citizens who are attempting to become self-sufficient solve their transportation problems. Contacts: Martha Robertson, Chair, Health and Human Services Committee, 272-0584; Patricia Carey, Commissioner of Social Services, 274-5251. LEGISLATURE REVERSES VOTE ON AIRPORT FUNDING Legislator George Totman took advantage of a rule of the Legislature in order to bring back a failed resolution for a revote. Totman was absent from the May 1 meeting at which an attempt to fund a $64,065 airport bill from the County's contingent fund failed in a 7 -7 tie vote. According to the Legislature's rules, anyone absent from a vote can ask to have a resolution reconsidered. This time, eight Legislators voted to advance funds from the contingency fund to the Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport for its share of the demolition of the old airport terminal. In May County Finance Director David Squires advised that if the airport used its limited cash on hand to pay the bill, it could jeopardize its ability to maintain day-to-day operations. Squires said then that he expects that the airport, which is supported by rents, landing fees, and other income-generating activities, will end the year with a deficit. Contacts: Dick Booth, Chair, Facilities and Infrastructure Committee, 272-6573; David Squires, Finance Director, 274-5544; Barbara Blanchard, 277-1374. |