- By Marcia E. Lynch
- News
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County Administrator Joe Mareane
In a report presented yesterday to the Legislature’s Budget, Capital and Finance Committee, and also shared with other legislators and department leadership, the administrator recommends that 2009 be considered a transition year to bridge the environment that existed when the 2009 budget was developed and the environment the County confronts today.
“Revenues on which the County relies—State aid, sales tax, and interest earnings—are in decline,” the administrator cautions. “Expenditures tied to human service needs are poised to rise. The result is a structural imbalance that must be addressed, preferably in a manner that does not create abrupt shocks to the community and economy that could exacerbate the effects of the recession.”
The administrator suggests the County use one-time resources—including an expected $1.85 million in Medicaid savings provided under the federal stimulus package—to temporarily sustain most County programs currently supported by at-risk State aid under the Governor’s budget.
While the County would attempt to maintain programs this year and avoid “abrupt, jarring midyear budget adjustments,” it would also provide “fair and lengthy notice” to service providers that it cannot promise the continued availability of County funding support beyond 2009. The aim, Administrator Mareane stresses, would be to maintain the County’s budget equilibrium, then focus on restructuring the 2010 budget to reflect the challenging new realities.
The framework, which the administrator characterizes as a “starting point” for thoughtful examination involving legislators and department heads, also recommends stringent expenditure guidelines throughout the organization, including limitation of discretionary spending. The proposal also suggests soliciting cost-saving suggestions from County employees and seeking an increase in the monthly telephone surcharge to help support the public safety communications system. Mr. Mareane projects that the suggested approach would enable the County to finish 2009 within about $640,000 of the County’s 2009 budget target.
Proposed reductions contained in the Governor’s budget include at least $1.6 million in permanent aid cuts to County programs and more than $1 million in losses to area agencies. The largest single reduction ($630,000) would eliminate funding for the Community Optional Preventive Services (COPS) program, administered by the Department of Social Services.
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