BUDGET COMMITTEE
November 18, 2009
** NOT APPROVED **
Committee Members Present
T. Hopkins, D. Fanton, W. Dibble,
C. Crandall (Absent: W. Hall, T. O’Grady)
L. Ballengee, D. Burdick, R.
Hartwick, M. Healy, D. Horan, J. Margeson, B. Reynolds, B. Riehle, D. Roeske, T.
Ross, F. Sinclair, R. Starks, W. Tompkins, K. Toot, R. Truax
Media Present
B. Quinn – Wellsville Daily
Reporter
Budget
Committee Chairman Theodore Hopkins called the meeting to order at
Approval of Minutes
The
October 21, 2009
Social Services - Third Quarter Financial Report
Social
Services Director of Administrative Services Donald Horan distributed copies of
his third quarter financial report. Mr.
Horan stated that the accounts are right where they should be and very close to
budgetary projections. Mr. Horan indicated
that they have seen more federal revenue from the ARRA which lowered the weekly
share of Medicaid by $25,000 to $30,000 per week.
Public Works – Third Quarter Financial Report
Public
Works Superintendent David Roeske distributed copies of his third quarter
financial report. Mr. Roeske noted that
income from the Recycling Program will fall short; however, excesses in other
accounts will cover the shortfall. Legislator
William Dibble asked if the revenues could be boosted with campaigning and
getting more people to recycle. Mr.
Roeske and Public Works Chairman Dwight Fanton indicated that it’s not so much
the volume, but the fact that the price we can get for our recyclables has gone
way down. Mr. Roeske stated that they
will be requesting a few transfers to balance their expense accounts. They have had a few projects to do at the
jail and will need to transfer money to the maintenance accounts, but there
should be money left over in the jail utility accounts. Legislator Dibble commented that it would be
nice to get sewer down to the Public Safety Facility sometime in the
future. The County is still plowing snow
in two towns – Alfred and
Health Department – Third Quarter Financial Report
Public
Health Director Lori Ballengee mentioned that they held a mass flu vaccine
clinic this past Saturday and 1,600 vaccines were administered to more than
1,100 people. Mrs. Ballengee stated that
they are well stocked with vaccine, and they are in the process of distributing
it to colleges and doctors’ offices.
Mrs. Ballengee distributed copies of her third quarter financial report,
noting that overall the Health Department accounts are accurate and close to
projections. As of October 31, 83.3
percent of the year has expired, and they have collected 75.92 percent of their
revenue. Some third quarter state aid
claims do not actually get submitted until November. On the expense side, 61.11 percent of the
Health Department budget has been spent.
Mrs. Ballengee stated that accounts A4011 and A4040 are both
dramatically over budget because the Nursing Programs were only budgeted for
three months, and the sale of these programs to Willcare occurred later than
originally anticipated. The rates for the
Special Education Programs have not been set so payments have been delayed and
are months behind leaving excess appropriations in the A4060 (Early
Intervention) account which will help offset the shortfall in the accounts
associated with the Nursing Programs.
Mrs. Ballengee complimented the fine work her Program Managers have done
this year and stated that overall they hope to spend about $600,000 less than
originally projected. Mrs. Ballengee
also mentioned that the E-911 Center will be taking over their answering
service beginning December 1, and that will save about $160/month. Mrs. Ballengee issued a special thank you to
Accountant Pamela Cockle for completing the financial report while she is at
home with a sick child.
Office for the Aging – Third Quarter Financial Report
Office
for the Aging Director Kimberley Toot distributed copies of her third quarter
financial report, noting that as of September 30, 2009, they have collected 69
percent of their revenues and expended 72 percent of their appropriations. The Office for the Aging accounts are all
accurate and very close to projections. Mrs. Toot distributed copies of an analysis
she did regarding the impact the Governor’s deficit reduction proposals would
have on services to seniors, and she believes that the estimated financial
impact will be $22,560. Mrs. Toot
indicated that she has been doing some advocacy, and she has encouraged the
seniors in the County to do the same.
Mrs. Toot stated that they are advocating for cuts in areas that won’t
cut core programs. There are areas that
can be cut that won’t affect the quality of life as seriously as cutting the
core programs. Chairman Crandall asked
if
Sheriff’s Office – Third Quarter Financial Report
Sheriff
William Tompkins and Sheriff’s Office Accountant Randy Hartwick distributed
copies of their third quarter financial report.
Sheriff Tompkins indicated that they anticipate that their revenue
collections will exceed the budgeted amount by approximately $100,299, and they
should also spend approximately $49,435 less than originally budgeted. Sheriff Tompkins called committee members’
attention to revenue A03.2260.01 (Jail Facilities), noting that the state discontinued
this revenue stream after the 2009 budget was completed. The Sheriff indicated that we may or may not
get the $35,000 currently budgeted to A03.2260.03 (Sheriff-Drug Task Force
Grant), and he isn’t sure why the A03.2264.06CT (Housing Other Counties
Inmates) was budged at $50,000 because he never would have expected to receive
that. The Sheriff indicating that a
booking error has caused the A3110.1 account to appear over budget. When an employee works overtime in the jail
it gets paid out of A3150, but some compensatory time earned in the jail was
inadvertently taken out of A3110 when it was used. The Sheriff acknowledged that they previously
requested a transfer from Contingency to cover medical expenses, but they were
able to cover any other shortfalls within their own accounts, and they
anticipate coming in about $50,000 under budget. The Sheriff stated that we have received
approximately $2.2 million from housing federal inmates. Sheriff Tompkins commented that our local
jail population is increasing which decreases the number of federal inmates we
can house, and the federal numbers would be even lower if we couldn’t classify
inmates in the way we do. The local
level should even off. Our female
population has increased, and we average about 17 females a day. Sheriff Tompkins gave a brief description of
the process that is followed when someone is arrested and brought to the
jail. Probation Director Robert Starks
stated that most people are at the Jail at least 12 to 24 hours before they can
get out. Pre-trial release doesn’t work
that quickly – the Probation Department has employees that determine if someone
should be released with an ankle bracelet, on their own recognizance, etc.
Probation Department – Third Quarter Financial Report
Probation
Director Robert Starks distributed copies of his third quarter financial
report. Mr. Starks indicated that the
accounts are accurate and very close to projections. The SORA Level 3 Offender and Shared Services
Grant revenue accounts appear to be lagging, but they run on a different fiscal
calendar and are still on target.
Electronic home monitoring fees are up from what was originally
anticipated, but the Probation Department should still come in under budget as
the personnel expenses are lower than budgeted due to filling vacant positions
at a lower rate of pay.
Sales Tax Report
County
Treasurer Terri Ross distributed copies of a Sales Tax Report reflecting
receipts through November 13, totaling $14,691,559.90 and interest totaling
$2,120.14 which is down about 7.034 percent ($1,111,641.51) compared to last
year’s figures. If the current trend
continues, the
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