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The County Legislature will be asked to allocate more than $200,000 for preventive programs for children and families, to make up a significant shortfall in State support.  The Legislature’s budget committee, without dissent, today recommended that nearly $215,000 be appropriated from the contingent fund to replace revenue from the State budgeted for 2011, but not received, to support Community Option Preventive Services Contracts, programs operated by the Department of Social Services through several human services agencies.  About half the allocation would support services provided through the County’s Probation Department.

The County last week was notified that its State allocation covering the first nine months of the year has been reduced by 71%.  County Administrator Joe Mareane said the contingency funding would provide time for an “orderly wind-down” of the programs through their scheduled expiration as of the end of September.  DSS also will seek to determine whether the allocation is correct and to investigate potential other funding streams to continue the program.

The committee also recommended $20,000 in contingent funding be allocated for administrative and technical support for the new Independent Redistricting Commission’s development of a reapportionment plan for County legislative districts.  During the 2011 budget process, it was acknowledged that funds would need to be provided to support development of the reapportionment plan.  Funds would support the cost of overtime, supplies, and materials, if needed. The recommendation was approved 4-1; Legislator Kathy Luz Herrera dissented, saying options such as the potential for contracting for needed service should be investigated before a funding decision is made.  Legislator Pam Mackesey also said it would be “fiscally prudent” to obtain more information about whether overtime would be required to provide service to the Commission.

The committee joined the Health and Human Services Committee in recommending funds be approved to support operation of the County’s Certified Home Health Agency through the end of this year.  The 2011 budget allocated 50% funding for the agency, and set aside additional one-time funding in contingency, if needed.  It also recommended adoption of the Tompkins Cortland Community College operating budget for the upcoming academic year.

Presenting the annual report on the state of County funds as of the end of 2010, Finance Director David Squires cautioned the committee to be careful in interpreting a more than $5 million rise reported in the General Fund Balance—an increase that reflects some restraint on the part of the Legislature in using the fund balance to support ongoing operations, but also some one-time entries and shifts in revenue.  While the General Fund stood at more than $16.8 million as of year’s end, Squires cautioned there was  only $9.5 million in cash to back that up, largely because of delayed reimbursements from the State.  He remains concerned about liquidity in cash flow, noting that, as of the end of 2010, the County had cash on hand to support under 25 days of operations, compared to nearly 40 days five years earlier.

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