COMMITTEE ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS

JOINT WITH THE COMMITTEES ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, EDUCATION, PUBLIC SAFETY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE, PARKS AND TRANSPORTATION

MINUTES: MAY 23, 2005

BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS MEMBERS: Chair: Kaplowitz; Legislators: Wishnie, Stewart-Cousins, Myers, Bronz, Alvarado, Spreckman, Rogowsky, Abinanti, Ryan

COMMUNITY AFFAIRS MEMBERS: Chair: Myers; Bronz, Alvarado, Ryan

EDUCATION MEMBERS: Chair: Spreckman; Pinto, Ryan

PUBLIC SAFETY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE MEMBERS: Chair: Wishnie; Kaplowitz, Rogowsky, Spreckman

TRANSPORTATION MEMBERS: Chair: Rogowsky; Legislators: Spreckman, Abinanti

PARKS MEMBERS: Chair: Alvarado; Pinto, Spreckman, Myers

IN ATTENDANCE: CEO: A. Neuman, M Long; Budget: K. Carrano, L. Bennett, A. Vietro; DOT: L. Salley; WCDP: W. Brady, E. Hoffmeister, F. McLaughlin, P. Natrelli; Parks: D. McBride P. Neglia; DPW: L. Scarano; DOP: P. Pagciaro; DOC: D. Smith; DPS: T. Belfiore, R. Rockecht; DES: A. Sutton; BOL:B. Boland, S. Bass, S. Vanderberg, M. Davis, R. Indelicatto, H. Corbin; WCC: L. Torrieri, R. Cirillo, CBAC: B. Strauss; Guests: K. Eddings, H. Spreckman, C. R. Doherty, A. Nastasi, P. Storino, R. Buckley, D. Belau

With a quorum present, the Committee on Budget and Appropriations was called to order at 10:00 a.m.

RECEIVE & FILE
(Alvarado, Spreckman) move to receive and file items B83, B99, B110/111, B89/105.

Motion passed 5-0.

B112
(Wishnie, Bronz) move the home rule request for New York State to enact A5568-a/S2758-a.

Motion passed 7-0.

(Wishnie, Stewart-Cousins) move the home rule request for New York State to enact A7161-a/S4076-a.

Motion passed 8-0.

With a quorum present, the Committee on Community Affairs was called to order at 10:31 a.m.

C162(WCC52)

(Myers, Stewart-Cousins) moved for Budget and Appropriations Committee; (Pinto, Spreckman) moved for the Education Committee; (Bronz, Alvarado) moved for the Committee on Community Affairs to approve $1,002,000 in bonds for Westchester Community College Campus-wide site improvements.

Motion passed for Budget & Appropriations 9-0. Motion passed for Community Affairs 4-0. Motion passed for Education 3-0.

(Pinto,Spreckman) moved to approve the Committee on Education Minutes of October 25, 2004.

Motion passed 3-0.

(Pinto, Spreckman) moved to adjourn the Committee on Education. Motion passed 3-0. The Committee on Education adjourned at 10:40 am.

(Bronz, Alvarado) moved to adjourn the Committee on Community Affairs. Motion passed 4-0. The Committee on Community Affairs adjourned at 10:40 am.

With a quorum present, the Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice was called to order at 10:41 a.m.

(Kaplowitz, Alvarado) moved for Budget and Appropriations; (Rogowsky, Spreckman); moved to support and urge the New York State Legislature to enact A2099/S241.

Motion passed for Budget and Appropriations 9-0.

Motion passed for Public Safety and Criminal Justice 4-0.

A13
(Rogowsky, Spreckman) moved for Public Safety and Criminal Justice; (Wishnie, Bronz); moved for Budget and Appropriations to establish a Mutual Aid and Rapid Response Plan.

Motion passed for Budget and Appropriations 9-0.

Motion passed for Public Safety and Criminal Justice 4-0.

A17

(Wishnie, Spreckman) moved for Budget and Appropriations; (Spreckman, Kaplowitz); moved to approve the IMA to administer the Edward Byrne Justice Grant.

Motion passed for Budget and Appropriations 8-1. (Nay-Abinanti)

Motion passed for Public Safety and Criminal Justice 4-0.

A23

Discussion occurred of IMA’s authorizing the collection to cash bail through use of credit cards. More information was requested on the Government Payment Services agreement. Chairman Kaplowitz requested the original legislation for this program. This item will be taken up at a future meeting.

(Spreckman, Kaplowitz) move Public Safety and Criminal Justice adjourn. Motion passed 4-0. Public Safety and Criminal Justice adjourned at 11:24 am.

With a quorum present, the Committee on Parks was called to order at 11:25 a.m.

A25/A26/C165/C166

(Rogowsky, Wishnie) move for Budget and Appropriations; (Pinto, Myers); move for Parks to authorize the county enter into an IMA and approve Bond Acts for the King Street ball field project in Rye Brook.

Motion for Budget and Appropriations passed 9-0.

Motion for Parks passed 4-0.

(Spreckman, Myers) move to adjourn parks. Motion passed 4-0.

The Committee on Parks adjourned at 11:40 a.m.

With a quorum present, the Committee on Transportation was called to order at 11:41 a.m.

C151(T0019)

(Abinanti, Spreckman) move for Transportation; (Bronz, Abinanti) move for Budget and Appropriations to approve $200,000 in bonds for the White Plains Center Passenger & Terminal improvements.

Motion for Transportation passed 3-0.

Motion for Budget & Appropriations passed 9-0.

A16

(Abinanti, Spreckman) move for Transportation; (Wishnie, Stewart-Cousins) move for Budget and Appropriations to approve the IMA authorizing the use of County owned passenger shuttle vans.

Motion for Transportation passed 3-0. Motion for Budget and Appropriations 9-0.

The Committee on Transportation recessed at 11:50.

First Quarter Projection

Budget Director Kate Carrano gave a report on the County’s First Quarter Budget Projections. The projected year end return to Fund Balance is approximately $4.5 million.

The New York State Budget adopted on time this year had some positive impacts on the county budget. There is $10.5 million in additional STOA Aid, $3 million in funding for 18-B attorneys, and $2.6 million in funding for Parkway Patrol for 4/1//05 through 3/31/06.

Due to cleanup in the reconciliation of last years process there is an increase in Mortgage Tax Receipts by $4 million to $25 million.

DSS Caseloads and cost per caseload continue to decline through the first quarter.

Medicaid continues to grow but at a slightly lower rate than budgeted resulting in a projected savings of approximately $1.5 million.

There is currently a loss of $10 million in revenue due from the Health Care Corporation.

There is an increase in cost of Bus Operating Assistance due to final settlement and free bus service through May estimated at $6.5 million. She is forecasting a slight resistance factor, which the free service should help reduce or eliminate by the second quarter.

May 26, 2005 A&C Agenda Review
No Comments

(Stewart-Cousins, Rogowsky) Moved to adjourn Budget and Appropriations. Motion passed 9-0. Committee on Budget and Appropriations adjourned at 12:05 PM.