Archive: News

Six weeks after receiving a recommended 2015 County Budget from County Administrator Joe Mareane, Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee have begun to recommend changes to the budget—all of Tuesday’s proposed amendments adding to the Administrator’s budget.
 
Before deliberations began, Administrator Mareane informed Legislators of an artificial increase in calculation of the County’s tax cap for 2015, from reconciliation of the sales tax credit that goes to five towns.  Although the cap calculation increases about half-a-point—from 2.65% to 3.14%--the calculated cap would decrease by that amount in 2016, and the Administrator advised that 2.65% continue as the benchmark used for the coming year, with the resulting carryover then used to offset the artificial decline in 2016.
 
Legislators recommended the following changes to the budget.  Tuesday’s decisions may be reconsidered at later expanded committee meetings and will require approval by the full Legislature to become final.
 
PLANNING:
Legislators, by a vote of 8-4, recommended $25,000 in over-target one-time funding to support an update in the ten-year-old Housing Needs Assessment and Strategy.  Planning Commissioner Ed Marx noted the study would be done in a way in which it could be easily updated and kept current.
 
HUMAN SERVICES COALITION:
By an 8-4 vote, $10,000 was approved to fully fund an over-target request that would maintain Coalition staffing at current levels.
 
HUMAN SERVICES COALITION AGENCIES:
-  $5,000 in one-time funding was approved, without dissent, for the Food Distribution Network, which serves 17 community food pantries and Loaves and Fishes.  Funds would be paid to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier as a line of credit, for the organizations to use for food, as needed.
- $7,500 in one-time funding was recommended for Catholic Charities, by a vote of 9-2, to fund a pilot project focused on  match clients to services.
 
YOUTH SERVICES – RECREATION PARTNERSHIP:
By a 12-0 vote, $1,238 was recommended, to support the County share of a 2% maintenance-of-effort increase for the Recreation Partnership.
- $1,238 Target – Pay County share of increase (OTR 61)
 
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING:
Supporting a new proposal advanced by Danby/Caroline Legislator Dan Klein, Legislators, by unanimous vote, recommended $15,000 in one-time funding to implement a West Danby van pool, in response to the impending loss of Tioga County’s public transit services, which will cease operating at the end of November, affecting West Danby residents who commute to Ithaca.  Mr. Klein said $1,000 to start up the service is also recommended in the Town of Danby budget.
 
COUNTY HISTORIAN:
Legislators, by unanimous vote, recommended $5,000 in one-time funding in the Historian’s budget toward funding commemoration of the County’s Bicentennial celebration in 2017.
 
SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT:
Legislators voted 9-2 to recommend to increase target funding by $30,000, beyond the $36,000 increase in the Administrator’s budget ($100,000 had been requested).  Budget chair Jim Dennis, one of the Legislature’s representatives on the District board, remarked that much has been accomplished over the last two years, with the organization now on a sound footing, and operating efficiently and effectively.
 
DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
By unanimous vote, $5,500 was recommended to cover the cost of a mandated Grand Jury stenographer.
 
OFFICE OF HUMAN RIGHTS:
Without dissent, $3,750 was restored to fully fund an over-target request for training, beyond the $5,000 included in the Administrator’s budget.  Director Karen Baer told Legislators the expenditure will both support the Office’s effort to partner with other agencies and attract additional funding to Tompkins County, as well as providing valuable training for staff.
 
TOMPKINS COMMUNITY ACTION:
By a 6-5 vote, $25,000 in over-target funding was recommended, as the local match to fund a second Early Headstart teacher in Dryden.
 
 
Other actions:
 

• A proposal to increase funding for Stream Corridor Restoration by $5,000, and to change its long-time one-time funding to target failed by a 4-8 margin; a proposal to fund at the current level, but with target funding failed 3-9, and another to allocate $20,000 in one-time funding and $10,000 target failed for lack of a second.
• A proposal to increase the sales tax projection by 0.2%, increasing revenue by nearly $63,000, failed for lack of a second.
• Proposed allocation of $4,823 in target funding, under Human Services Coalition Agencies, to address the Living Wage standard for staff at the Downtown Ithaca Children’s Center failed by a 2-9 vote.  The County’s relationship with the Center involves providing a $120,000 annual subsidy, not contracting for a service.

 
The committee opted to postpone consideration until its next meeting a proposal to set aside $20,000 in contingency funding, via the Library budget, to collaborate with the City of Ithaca downtown community outreach initiative—which would potentially fund an outreach worker to work with groups of people in a positive program to address issues that have occurred in the Green Street area near the Library.
 
Potential Tax Impact of Recommendations to Date

In its first actions, the committee increased target spending in the County Administrator’s recommended budget by $71,738 and the use of reserves by $61,250. If Tuesday’s committee recommendations were approved, the county’s total 2015 tax levy would increase by 2.50% (up 0.16% from the 2.34% increase in the Administrator’s budget), and the average county tax rate would stand at $6.85 per thousand dollars assessed property value, an increase of $8.09 for the owner of the median-priced $165,000 home.  Since the increase would be below the State property tax cap, that amount would be returned to the homeowner under the new property tax freeze law.
 
The Expanded Budget Committee will next convene Thursday, October 16, to consider further potential recommended amendments to the Administrator’s budget.  All Expanded Budget sessions begin at 5:30 p.m., and are held at Legislature Chambers in the Governor Daniel D. Tompkins Building, 121 E. Court Street (Second Floor).
 
The 2015 Recommended Budget, along with other budget-related information, is posted on the budget page of the County web site at www.TompkinsCountyNY.gov (Click on “County Budget and Financial Information.”)
 
v10i39