Social services budget could be up half a million
NORWICH – Though tentative, the county’s Social Services budget – including programs and administration – could be nearly half a million dollars more next year.
The amount represents a 4.5 percent local share increase on departmental costs that total $10.8 million. Appropriations are estimated to be about $23 million next year minus expected revenues of about $12 million.
Chenango County DSS Commissioner Bette Osborne said she expected to hear in the coming months whether the federal government would be paying $115,000 to New York State directly or to Chenango County’s DSS for a contract it administers for the Broome, Chenango, Otsego and Delaware system.
“We are hoping. They are making decisions right and left at this point,” Osborne said. The department would still be over $400,000 more than last year. DSS contributed $700,000 to surplus in 2007.
Finance Committee Chairman Lawrence N. Wilcox said he was “fairly confident” that the half million dollar mark was “a worst case scenario.”
Revenues are down 6.2 percent due in part to a 23 percent cut in a federal program created by former Governor Pataki that provides assistance to needy families, called the “Flexible Fund for Family Services.” County Treasurer William E. Evans remarked that while the federal government takes away revenues, it continues mandating specific programs.
“When they take the revenues away, they should also take the programs away,” he said.
DSS program expenses are up $477,000, Osborne reported. She pointed to more services provided to other departments, a more costly bill for a security contract with the county’s Sheriff’s Office and a new $32,000 contract for the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York. The latter is intended to assist individuals in the process of getting Social Security income through the court appeals process.
In addition, DSS assumed the utility bills and $150,000 worth of internal renovations at the former Sheriff’s Office and old jail on West Park Place in the City of Norwich.
The department also added a new custodian during the year to maintain the two buildings.
Town of German Supervisor Richard Schlag made a motion to move the 2008 budget on through the committee system despite concerns that the figures could change. “It’s hard to move a budget that’s up in the air,” he said.
Members of the Finance Committee will review the tentative budget later in the budgeting season.
The amount represents a 4.5 percent local share increase on departmental costs that total $10.8 million. Appropriations are estimated to be about $23 million next year minus expected revenues of about $12 million.
Chenango County DSS Commissioner Bette Osborne said she expected to hear in the coming months whether the federal government would be paying $115,000 to New York State directly or to Chenango County’s DSS for a contract it administers for the Broome, Chenango, Otsego and Delaware system.
“We are hoping. They are making decisions right and left at this point,” Osborne said. The department would still be over $400,000 more than last year. DSS contributed $700,000 to surplus in 2007.
Finance Committee Chairman Lawrence N. Wilcox said he was “fairly confident” that the half million dollar mark was “a worst case scenario.”
Revenues are down 6.2 percent due in part to a 23 percent cut in a federal program created by former Governor Pataki that provides assistance to needy families, called the “Flexible Fund for Family Services.” County Treasurer William E. Evans remarked that while the federal government takes away revenues, it continues mandating specific programs.
“When they take the revenues away, they should also take the programs away,” he said.
DSS program expenses are up $477,000, Osborne reported. She pointed to more services provided to other departments, a more costly bill for a security contract with the county’s Sheriff’s Office and a new $32,000 contract for the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York. The latter is intended to assist individuals in the process of getting Social Security income through the court appeals process.
In addition, DSS assumed the utility bills and $150,000 worth of internal renovations at the former Sheriff’s Office and old jail on West Park Place in the City of Norwich.
The department also added a new custodian during the year to maintain the two buildings.
Town of German Supervisor Richard Schlag made a motion to move the 2008 budget on through the committee system despite concerns that the figures could change. “It’s hard to move a budget that’s up in the air,” he said.
Members of the Finance Committee will review the tentative budget later in the budgeting season.
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