County works to hold the line
NORWICH – Chenango County budgeting officials say they are working diligently to hold the line on next year’s taxes in light of the nation’s economic downturn.
“People are walking up to me on the street and asking me questions (about the tax rate for 2009) who have never asked me those questions before,” Treasurer William E. Evans said. “It’s a tenuous time.”
Based on recommendations made by department directors and their standing committees, preliminary calculations point to a 2 percent increase on the levy. Evans said he was encouraging directors to pare down their proposals even further.
“We would like the levy to hold to a zero increase. ... I would recommend that it’s a pressing need that we get this levy down,” Evans said.
The 2008 real property tax levy of $22.7 million represented a 0.75 percent hike.
A report from the Department of Social Services last week showed a decrease in previous estimates, in part due to an influx of an additional $100,000 in Medicaid reimbursements. Previous estimates of the nearly $23.5 million budget would have meant a 7 percent increase. DSS Commissioner Bette Osborne was able to shave that down to 4.24 percent.
Osborne said she was concerned, however, about another budget session planned for the New York State Legislature in November. DSS already weathered through 8 percent in state cuts this year, in addition to losing a block grant for Foster Care.
Evans said he hoped the government would cut state programs, “not shift costs to us.”
The social services department budget has been strained by significantly more family assistance and single adult caseloads as well as charges for four juveniles retained in detention centers. The county pays $40,000 per year per youth and, in addition, owes $20,000 in retroactive charges.
Osborne said Chenango County’s family assistance numbers were higher this year than numbers tabulated for the surrounding five counties.
Budgeters had already tentatively approved a nearly $1 million budget for Children’s Services for 2009. Local taxpayers would pick up the tab for $99,000 of the cost, which represents an 11 percent increase over last year. The budget is up $10,000 based on a higher number of youths enrolled in the 3-5 preschool program.
Other increases are the result of community college chargebacks. The Finance Committee meets again on Thursday to review more government budgets.
The Finance Committee will recommend to the full board next month that $725,000 be taken from surplus to speed up payment of 2008 retirement benefits for county employees. The amount will be added to approximately $1.07 million held in reserves in order to pay the nearly $1.8 million bill in November. Surplus currently stands at $12.8 million.
“People are walking up to me on the street and asking me questions (about the tax rate for 2009) who have never asked me those questions before,” Treasurer William E. Evans said. “It’s a tenuous time.”
Based on recommendations made by department directors and their standing committees, preliminary calculations point to a 2 percent increase on the levy. Evans said he was encouraging directors to pare down their proposals even further.
“We would like the levy to hold to a zero increase. ... I would recommend that it’s a pressing need that we get this levy down,” Evans said.
The 2008 real property tax levy of $22.7 million represented a 0.75 percent hike.
A report from the Department of Social Services last week showed a decrease in previous estimates, in part due to an influx of an additional $100,000 in Medicaid reimbursements. Previous estimates of the nearly $23.5 million budget would have meant a 7 percent increase. DSS Commissioner Bette Osborne was able to shave that down to 4.24 percent.
Osborne said she was concerned, however, about another budget session planned for the New York State Legislature in November. DSS already weathered through 8 percent in state cuts this year, in addition to losing a block grant for Foster Care.
Evans said he hoped the government would cut state programs, “not shift costs to us.”
The social services department budget has been strained by significantly more family assistance and single adult caseloads as well as charges for four juveniles retained in detention centers. The county pays $40,000 per year per youth and, in addition, owes $20,000 in retroactive charges.
Osborne said Chenango County’s family assistance numbers were higher this year than numbers tabulated for the surrounding five counties.
Budgeters had already tentatively approved a nearly $1 million budget for Children’s Services for 2009. Local taxpayers would pick up the tab for $99,000 of the cost, which represents an 11 percent increase over last year. The budget is up $10,000 based on a higher number of youths enrolled in the 3-5 preschool program.
Other increases are the result of community college chargebacks. The Finance Committee meets again on Thursday to review more government budgets.
The Finance Committee will recommend to the full board next month that $725,000 be taken from surplus to speed up payment of 2008 retirement benefits for county employees. The amount will be added to approximately $1.07 million held in reserves in order to pay the nearly $1.8 million bill in November. Surplus currently stands at $12.8 million.
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