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Legislators acting as an Expanded Budget Committee examined five more department budgets, as it nears the end of the presentation stage of 2010 County budget review, with all presenters warning legislators Wednesday of a difficult budget year ahead.

Highlights from Wednesday’s review:

EMERGENCY RESPONSE:

Saying that the trend of budget cuts and limited target increases has left his department with no alternatives other than staff reductions to meet the County’s required target, Director of Emergency Response Lee Shurtleff told legislators he will have to cut one emergency services dispatcher and reduce another position by half, unless the Legislature approves more than $100,000 in over target spending to maintain minimum dispatch staffing.  The County Administrator has recommended about $66,000 toward that purpose. The director characterized the  recommendation as “reasonable” and said he could live with restoring one position and under-funding the second.  Shurtleff has also eliminated a technician’s position, reduced maintenance, support, and equipment allocations to meet the 2010 budget target.  He cautioned that some of his budget’s revenue projections, such as that from the yet-to-be-approved increase in the telephone landline surcharge, may amount to somewhat of a “gamble,” since they are not yet definite.

SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND JAIL:

Sheriff Peter Meskill cautioned that, while he can live with the budget recommended by the County Administrator, the budget “will not be sustainable beyond 2010.”  The department had to absorb a $370,000 cut to the law enforcement and civil units, with a more than $70,000 reduction in overtime funding, and significant reductions in areas such as operations, training, equipment, computer software, fuel, supplies, and vehicles.  The Sheriff has requested more than $91,000 to restore a deputy position, with about $70,000 recommended by the County Administrator.  The administrator recommends about $90.000 of about $160,000 in over target spending requested for vehicle replacement, partially funded through rollover.  Regarding the corrections division, the Sheriff projects implementation of the recent variance issued by the State Commission on Corrections should produce about a quarter-million dollar annual saving in prisoner board out expense, but cautioned it’s uncertain on how long the 18-bed variance will continue.  More inmates, he said, must be housed without additional funding for food, supplies and medical expense.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATION:

County Administration achieved a more than $53,000 target reduction by reducing staff hours and cutting by nearly half the Cooperative Extension contract that supports the Public Information program..  The Deputy County Administrator position is reduced to half-time, with efforts focused on high-priority capacity building and shared services projects; the Public Information Officer position reduced from 40 to 35 hours per week.  The budget includes eight months target funding for the new Program Analyst position, supporting crucial formative work to develop a county performance management system, which Administrator Joe Mareane stressed is among the County’s highest priorities.

LEGISLATURE:

The County Administrator has recommended more than $20,000 in over target requests, covering mileage reimbursement for legislators, technical support for new meeting management software, and computer replacement (funded through rollover), but did not recommend funding to restore hours for three Legislature staff from 37.5 to 40 hours per week and for project assistants.  Legislature Clerk Cathy Covert told stated that the office, which is required by law to be open full time during business hours, cannot absorb a reduction in staff hours without a corresponding decrease in workload.  There is no increase in legislator pay for 2010.


HUMAN RIGHTS DIVISION:

Human Rights had to reduce a paralegal aide from full to half-time to cut its target by more than $27,000 to meet the required County target reduction.  The County Administrator recommends approval of over target spending on a one time basis, using departmental rollover.  Director Shawn Martel Moore told legislators her department will be able to live with the budget in 2010, but that it will be difficult.  She projects that Human Rights’ caseload will likely increase, especially in the area of disability cases, stemming from this year’s amendment which modifies provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

County Human Services Coalition Director Kathy Schlather also spoke briefly with legislators, in a brief revisit requested by Legislature Chair Mike Koplinka-Loehr, who asked whether the recently awarded homelessness prevention grant could potentially  offsetting County expense related to the grant recipients (Department of Social Services, the Coalition, Tompkins Community Action and Catholic Charities).  Schlather said the grant’s purpose is focused with next to no administrative support, making any offset infeasible.

The committee will hear the final presentations next Monday, October 5, with review of the District Attorney’s budget and the County’s capital program.  After discussion, Legislators decided the remainder of that meeting will be devoted to discussion, and that voting on recommended changes will begin October 13. Voting meetings are scheduled to continue through the end of October.

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