BUDGET COMMITTEE
** NOT APPROVED **
T. Hopkins, D. Fanton, W. Dibble, T. O’Grady, C. Crandall
(Absent: Hall)
J. Margeson, B. Riehle
Media Present
B. Quinn – Wellsville Daily Reporter
Approval of Minutes
The March
18, 2009 Budget Committee minutes were approved on a motion by Legislator Fanton,
seconded by Legislator Dibble and carried.
Sales Tax Report
County Administrator
John Margeson reported that we received approximately $1.9 million in sales tax
revenue this month which is about $52,000 more than we received in March of
last year. Mr. Margeson indicated that
he recently received a report from NYSAC comparing 2008 sales tax figures with
2009 figures for all counties across the state.
While many counties are showing large reductions,
Tourism Budget
Mr.
Margeson distributed a memo listing the line item balances totaling $20,835 in
the Tourism Budget as follows:
A6989.101 Personnel
$7,992 A6989.401
Postage $6,433
A6989.402 Mileage $1,910 A6989.407 Office Supplies $ 500
A6989.409 Fees $4,000
Mr. Margeson indicated that there should be no reason to
expend money out of these accounts between now and the end of the year. Our contract with the Greater Allegany County
Chamber for tourism services called for us to pay them $25,000 when the
contract was initiated and another $25,000 after six months. It was noted that the initial payment of
$25,000 was paid from Mr. Margeson’s fees account, and it should be reimbursed. A motion was made by Legislator Fanton,
seconded by Legislator Dibble and carried to transfer $50,000 from A1990.4
(Contingency) to A1011.409 (
Tax Stabilization
Reserve Fund
Mr.
Margeson distributed a copy of Resolution No. 159-2000 – Establishment of
Contingency and Tax Stabilization Reserve Fund – along with backup information
that explains what the fund is about, what it is intended to do, and how it can
be used. Committee members discussed how
to use the funds from the temporary FMAP increase.
Legislator
Timothy O’Grady noted that some of the town highway superintendents would like
to see a capital fund established that could be used for bridge
replacements. They would like the County
to establish and finance a fund that could only be used for replacing bridges
to make sure the money is available when needed. Legislator
Chairman
Curtis Crandall referred back to the Resolution No. 159-2000 stating that it
was done so that the tobacco money would be used in the best way. We do not want to tie our hands so tight that
we do not have options; however, we do not want to squander it without any direction. It would be nice to look at other
options. Legislator Dwight Fanton
suggested funding some capital accounts.
Chairman Crandall also talked about using the money to raise the tax
base to get more out of the money over the long haul – like sewer and water
projects – funds for infrastructure.
Legislator Dibble suggested the funds could be used as a match on
certain funding.
Committee
members briefly discussed some funding hits we will take in other
accounts. The New York Statement
Retirement bill will take a huge hit next year and could be 18 percent of our total
payroll. Legislator Dwight Fanton
remarked that until they develop a Tier 5 there isn’t much we can do about
it.
Next Meeting
The next
Budget Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May
20. County Treasurer Terri Ross will
have year-end figures for 2008.
Legislator
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