BUDGET COMMITTEE
 September 17, 2008

** NOT APPROVED ** 

Committee Members Present

T. Hopkins, D. Fanton, W. Dibble, T. O’Grady, C. Crandall

(Absent:  W. Hall)

 

Others Present

J. Margeson, D. Pullen, B. Riehle, T. Ross, E. Ruckle

 

Media Present

B. Quinn – Wellsville Daily Reporter

 

Approval of Minutes

            The September 8, 2008 Budget Committee minutes were approved on a motion by Legislator Dibble, seconded by Legislator O’Grady and carried.

 

Sales Tax Report

            County Treasurer Terri Ross distributed copies of a Sales Tax Report reflecting receipts through September 13, 2008, totaling $12,596,390.35 and interest totaling $13,370.74 which is up about 11.43 percent ($1,292,340.04) over last year’s figures.  It was noted that the Truck Stop is still not selling diesel fuel, but we have not seen a negative impact in our overall sales tax collections yet.

 

            Legislator David Pullen stated that when Shawn Hogan, Mayor of the City of Hornell, spoke at our last Board meeting regarding complying with the state relative to facilities for the Court System, he indicated that if the state had imposed sanctions, it would have included sales tax revenue.  Legislator Pullen asked if Allegany County’s sales tax revenue will be withheld if sanctions are imposed on us for noncompliance.  Ms. Ross stated that it is unclear what the state might do.  There does not appear to be any experience for counties, and a city has a different kind of flow.  Ms. Ross indicated that she has been corresponding with NYSAC about this issue, and they have not been able to obtain any answers yet.  Ms. Ross stated that she does not know if the County’s cash flow would be cut off immediately or not, but either way it will have a huge impact on Allegany County’s finances.  Legislator Timothy O’Grady commented that the answers to some of these questions could make a difference in how some legislators vote. 

 

2009 Budget Review

            County Administrator/Budget Officer John Margeson indicated that he plans to make the following changes to the preliminary 2009 Budget before filing the Tentative Budget:

 

            Changes to Appropriations Accounts:

 

            Reduce Long Term Health Care Personnel               A4040.1

            From $30,168 to $0                                                    ($30,168)

 

            Reduce Jail Personnel                                                A3150.1

            From $4,257,805 to $3,807,805                                 ($450,000)

 

            Reduce Central Service Computer Personnel           A1680.1

            From $240,065 to $212,692                                       ($27,373)

 

            Reduce Social Services Personnel                            A6010.1

            From $4,604,493 to $4,391,739                                 ($212,754)

 

            Reduce Buildings and Grounds Personnel                A1620.1

            From $364,842 to $340,653                                       ($24,189)

 

            Reduce Jail Buildings/Grounds                                  A3152.1

            From $121,867 to $90,735                                         ($31,132)

 

            Reduce Sheriff’s Admin. Personnel                           A3110.1

            From $973,562 to $947,562                                       ($26,000)

 

            Remove $100,000 from appropriation to

            Vehicle Purchase Reserve Fund                                ($100,000)

 

            Reduce Social Security                                              A9030.803

            From $1,700,775 to $1,350,775                                 ($350,000)     Still discussing w/Treas.

 

            Reduce County Road Fund State Retirement           D9010.802     

            From $250,000 to $220,000                                       ($30,000)

 

            Reduce a variety of Departmental Personnel

            accounts based on salary increase requests

            totaling                                                                         ($83,750)

 

 

            Changes to Revenue Accounts:

 

            Appropriate $85,000 for 2009 Willcare payment        ($85,000)

 

            Increase Solid Waste Permit Revenues                    A02.2130.04

            From $425,000 to $550,000                                       ($125,000)

 

            Increase Housing Other Counties Revenue               A03.2264.06 CT

            From $20,000 to $50,000                                           ($30,000)

 

            Increase Housing Federal Prisoners                          A03.2264.06 FD

            From $1,513,000 to $1,800,000                                 ($287,000)

 

            Increase Tobacco Settlement                                                A07.2690.00

            From $825,000 to $850,000                                       ($25,000)

 

            Increase Reimburse Medicare Part D Revenue        A08.2700. MCED

            From $0 to $100,000                                                  ($100,000)

 

            Changes made to the Budget prior to the filing of the Tentative Budget, do not require a resolution.   Mr. Margeson indicated that he plans to make some additional changes over the next five to seven days, and he would like to meet with the committee one more time before September 30.

 

 

 

            Legislator Dwight Fanton stated that he thought that revenue received for housing inmates above and beyond the bond payment would be going into the Reserve Fund.  Mr. Margeson suggested that we might want to recognize it as a General Fund revenue, and after the books are closed, the Board can move any surplus to a Reserve account.  Legislator Fanton stated that he did not realize that the revenue received from housing inmates could be used toward offsetting General Fund expenses; he thought the revenue received in excess of the bond payment had to go into the Reserve Fund.  County Treasurer Terri Ross indicated that the resolution is rather vague, and it does not list the funding source.  Budget Committee Chairman Theodore Hopkins stated that we are incurring additional expenses due to housing in so he doesn’t believe we want to dedicate all of the revenue received to the Reserve Fund.  Mr. Margeson believes that we are complying with the spirit of the resolution.  Chairman Curtis Crandall stated that some legislators thought the revenue should automatically be going into a Reserve Fund; however, it is not an automatic shift without legislative action.  If we want revenue to go into a Reserve Fund, the Board would have to direct the County Treasurer accordingly.  Mr. Margeson suggested that we close the 2008 Budget and then make some decisions about how to fund the Reserve.

 

 

Future Meetings        

                The next meeting will be after the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, September 22, 2008.

 

Adjournment

There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Legislator Fanton, seconded by Legislator Dibble and carried.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Brenda Rigby Riehle, Clerk of the Board

Allegany County Board of Legislators