BUDGET COMMITTEE

February 18, 2009

 

** NOT APPROVED **

Committee Members Present

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

 

Others Present

J. Margeson, B. Riehle, T. Ross, W. Tompkins

 

Media Present

B. Quinn – Wellsville Daily Reporter

 

Approval of Minutes

            The January 21, 2009 Budget Committee minutes were approved on a motion by Legislator Fanton, seconded by Legislator Hall and carried.

 

NYSAC Conference

            Budget Committee Chairman Theodore Hopkins briefly updated committee members on some of the things discussed at the New York State Association of Counties Conference last week.  The state can’t take our FMAP (Federal Medical Assistance Percentage) increases so they are looking at other things.  There is a strong possibility that the tax exemption on clothing may be eliminated.  Legislator Dwight Fanton mentioned that they did bump the CHIPS funding back up to last year’s levels.  Allegany County’s sales tax revenue may be down because people will be spending less and gas prices are also down from what they were.  There was also talk about taxing health providers.

 

Sales Tax Report

            County Treasurer Terri Ross distributed copies of a Sales Tax Report reflecting receipts through February 13, 2009, totaling $1,817,428.84 and interest totaling $419.53.  Overall sales tax revenues are down slightly when compared with last year at this time; however, we did receive slightly more (about $23,000) in February 2009 than we did in February 2008.

 

Community College Report

            Ms. Ross distributed copies of a Community College Report summarizing the expenses paid to the various Community Colleges in New York State when an Allegany County resident attends one of their schools.  The reports (attached to original minutes) show different breakdowns by town, college, and student.  Since 2003, Allegany County has paid $4,050,277.56 to Community Colleges.  In 2008 we paid $805,382.77, up from $762,988.76 in 2007.  Our 2009 Community College account A2495 has been budgeted at $840,000.  Committee members expressed concern regarding increased costs and believe that costs may increase even more as aid is cut to state schools and we fall deeper into a recession.

 

            Legislator William Dibble indicated that he would like to see the number of students by town that attend Alfred State College.  Ms. Ross indicated that she will check on this information and report back.

 

Executive Session

            A motion was made by Legislator Fanton, seconded by Legislator Hall and carried to enter into executive session to discuss the employment history of a particular employee as well as collective negotiations.  Immediately following discussion, a motion was made by Legislator Fanton, seconded by Legislator Hall and carried to end the executive session and return to the regular meeting.

 

Sheriff’s Office – Financial Reports

            Sheriff William Tompkins distributed copies of various financial reports.  The various .103 premium pay accounts under the Sheriff’s Office ended 2008 at $5,123,499 which was $192,860 over budget and 8.84 percent higher than last year.  The .103 accounts represent a portion of overtime costs, but they do not include .104 accounts (Compensation Time).  Public Works’ employees assigned to the Allegany County Jail and Public Safety Facility are also paid out of a separate account (A3152).   The Sheriff’s Administrative Staff worked approximately 2,950 overtime hours in 2008, and so far in 2009 the Administrative Staff has worked 486 overtime hours.  Sheriff Tompkins indicated that entering information for the new Telestaff Program database is labor intensive which has increased overtime hours.  In addition, two or three employees will be going to California for additional training and education for the Telestaff Program.  The Sheriff believes that the Telestaff Program will be very beneficial and should help control overtime costs once it is up and running.  The Sheriff estimates that they should be able to save approximately $26,000 in 2009 by increasing the use of inmates in the kitchen. 

 

            In 2008 approximately 48,317 overtime hours were worked in the Sheriff’s Office at a cost of $1.22 million.  So far in 2009, approximately 7,363 overtime hours have been worked in the Sheriff’s Office at an estimated cost of $166,877.  The Sheriff reported that this is a savings of 841.5 hours over 2008 full-time overtime hours.  Sheriff Tompkins indicated that they have been able to cover more shifts with part-time Correction Officers than last year.  The Sheriff also indicated that they have been able to save a lot of money over the last few years because of the Pre-Trial Diversion Program.

 

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