| LEGISLATURE AIMS FOR ZERO-INCREASE BUDGET
Tompkins County Administrator Steve Whicher has received his instructions: Bring the Legislature a recommended 2006 budget that does not increase the County property tax levy – the total amount of County property tax collected—over the current rate. The County property tax levy in 2005 was set at $33,103,560, up 6.59 percent over 2004. To help Whicher achieve the zero-increase goal, unmatched since 1998 when the levy went down by 1.5 percent, the Legislators approved some stringent guidelines. County-funded departments and agencies will be directed to hold 2006 local spending at 2005 levels. Further, departments and agencies must subtract from their budgets any one-time local funding and any “rollover” funding that was approved last year. Rollover is unspent money that is carried forward from a previous years’ allocation. Departments will not have to absorb the cost of any increases in salary and fringe benefit costs, which will be covered by the County’s general fund. Any 2006 funding requests over the 2005 level must be presented as “over-target requests,” but Whicher has already advised departments not to expect a high rate of approval for these requests. Some Legislators suggested that Whicher look at cutting entire programs, as opposed to recommending smaller, across-the-board cuts that could weaken a variety of public services. Whicher’s recommended budget will be delivered to the Legislature at the beginning of September. The gloomy news is tempered by the fact that the County’s cash reserves are higher than in recent years, potentially providing a cushion against cuts. Legislators Barbara Blanchard, Kathy Luz Herrera, Tim Joseph, Dooley Kiefer, Michael Lane, Michael Koplinka-Loehr, Leslyn McBean-Clairborne, Peter Penniman, Martha Robertson, Nancy Schuler, and George Totman voted for the budget guidelines. Richard Booth, Frank Proto, and Daniel Winch were opposed; both favored a further cut of 2.5 percent to department and agency fiscal targets. LEGISLATURE APPROVES TC3 BUDGET, ADVANCES CAPITAL FUNDS The Legislature approved an increase in its share of support for Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3), as well as early payment of $620,000 for campus improvements. The County will pay an additional $49,208, increasing its total share of the $25.8 million 2005-2006 TC3 operating budget to $2,176,785. Tompkins and Cortland counties divide the local sponsor cost according to the number of students from each county who attend. The Cortland County Legislature has already approved an increase of $88,042, for a total of $1,391,715. Of the 13 Legislators present at the meeting, 11 voted for the increased funding. Barbara Blanchard and Martha Robertson were opposed. The Legislature unanimously (13 present) approved a cash payment of $620,000 the college for capital improvements to its campus. Funding for TC3’s $27 million “master plan”, which includes upgrades and expansions to campus facilities, was recently approved by New York State. Tompkins and Cortland counties will help the project get started with a shared contribution of $1 million, advanced from capital funds already approved for the master plan. Because the state funding will not be released until next spring, the college asked for a portion of the local funds to be released early so work can start this year. Tompkins County’s allocation will be taken from its contingent fund, money that is set aside each year for unexpected expenses. The contingent fund for 2005 was set at $1,230,000. After the payment to TC3, about $464,000 will remain. The County has other cash reserves that can be used to replenish the contingent fund, if necessary. COUNTY HIRES NEW HIGHWAY MANAGER The Legislature approved the appointment of William Sczesny (pronounced SEZ-nee) as Highway Manager for the County. Sczesny most recently worked in Broome County from 1997 through 2004 in the joint position of Director of Highways and Commissioner of Public Works. His formal training is in civil engineering and transportation systems planning. Sczesny is past president of the New York State Chapter of the American Public Works Association and is a 30-year veteran of active and reserve duty in the US Navy. He will begin work at the County Highway Department on Jule 22. Two separate recruitment processes and two rounds of interviews for the position were conducted by a search committee that included County officials and staff, Legislator Daniel Winch, and Town of Lansing Highway Superintendent Jack French. |