BUDGET COMMITTEE
October 21, 2009

** NOT APPROVED**

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Committee Members Present

T. Hopkins, D. Fanton, W. Dibble, T. O’Grady (Absent: C. Crandall, W. Hall)

Others Present

D. Burdick, B. Riehle, T. Ross, K. Toot

Approval of Minutes

The September 23, 2009, Budget Committee minutes were approved on a motion by Legislator Fanton, seconded by Legislator Dibble and carried.

Sales Tax Report

County Treasurer Terri Ross distributed copies of a Sales Tax Report reflecting receipts through October 14, 2009, totaling $13,539,782.67 and interest totaling $1,855.41 which is down about 7.491 percent ($1,096,341.23) over last year’s figures which is an improvement over previous reports. If the current trend continues, the County Treasurer projects that we could be approximately $1.6 million short in sales tax revenue collections this year. It was noted that the previous shortfall was estimated at $2.2 million so things are moving in a positive direction.

2010 Budget

Budget Committee Chairman Theodore Hopkins announced that there will be a special Committee of the Whole meeting at 10 a.m. on Monday, November 9, so that the 2010 Tentative Budget can be reviewed and discussed by the entire Board.

It was noted that the 2010 Tentative Budget uses $500,000 from the fund balance.

Governor’s Deficit Reduction Plan

On October 15, New York State Governor David A. Paterson released his two-year, $5 Billion Deficit Reduction Plan to address the current year budget gap and improve New York’s long-term fiscal stability. The proposals have not yet been considered by the Legislature. NYSAC President Tom Santulli released a statement supporting the Governor’s proposals, noting that cuts that would have included mandated cost shifts to counties were eliminated.

Although funding for mandated programs has not been cut, the proposal includes cuts to many departments that run optional state-funded programs. Office for the Aging Director Kimberley Toot stated that the proposal will affect all of her core programs. Mrs. Toot stated that if money is not found elsewhere to run programs such as Meals on Wheels, they will have to start waiting lists for services. Mrs. Toot indicated that Office for the Aging representatives from around the state are campaigning to save core programs by offering up something else. If we get cut, the County will have to decide how they want the Office for the Aging to handle things. County Treasurer Terri Ross indicated that the proposed cuts are around 10 percent, and departments may not be able to absorb cuts without cutting services.

Departmental Third Quarter Financial Reports

Committee members requested Ms. Ross to send notices to the six largest departments letting them know that they should plan to attend the next regular Budget Committee meeting to present their third quarter financial reports.

Committee members also talked about the possibility of having County Administrator/Budget Officer John Margeson send a letter asking departments to be frugal at the end of the year, and reminding them to be timely in their submissions for reimbursement.

Adjournment

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

Respectfully submitted,

Brenda Rigby Riehle, Clerk of the Board

Allegany County Board of Legislators