No objections raised at hearing on 2011 county budget
NORWICH – No objections were launched against the Chenango County Board of Supervisors’ proposed 2011 spending plan during a public hearing held Tuesday night, paving the way for this morning’s formal vote.
Before a packed room of department directors and other county government workers, Chairman Richard B. Decker, R-North Norwich, said this year’s budget process was the “most difficult” he’d undertaken in 12 years at the helm.
“The ever-increasing cost of county government is directly attributable to state social service programs,” he said. Medicaid and other social service mandates from the state and federal government increased the county’s local share by $1.3 million.
Decker suggested that a complete take-over of Medicaid at the state level would unburden property taxpayers. He said New York’s “theory of passing the cost of state programs onto the back of county government” had resulted in $4.4 billion collected from upstate counties to cover the cost of only nine state programs (based on 2009 figures).
The tax levy of $23,074,667 is an increased of 1.01 percent from the 2010 fiscal plan. The estimated average countywide tax rate is $12.87; a decrease of approximately .88 cents per 1,000 dollars of countywide assessed property value.
The tentative budget utilizes an extra $2.3 million of surplus funds and adds about $231,000 of real growth of the assessment total for 2011. It also applies $1.2 million of unspent federal stimulus funds.
Chenango County Treasurer William E. Evans, who retires this year after 24 years of public service, said next year’s draft budget marks the sixth consecutive year of average tax rate decrease. The 2011 average rate is $12.87 compared to the 2005 rate of $17.07. Sixty-seven percent of county departments presented either a decreased local share or a very minimal increase, he said.
During the past five years, the board has used more than $11.7 million in surplus to complete major capital projects. No large capital project outlay is planned within the 2011 budget and 2012 will see county government become completely debt free. The estimated $13 to $15 million in unappropriated surplus funds at year end should provide “a solid financial base for general fund operations into the New Year,” the treasurer said.
Evans and Decker thanked department directors and supervisors for maintaining the county’s fiscal position. Decker took the opportunity to acknowledge Evans’ years of service.
“There is no doubt in my mind this county wouldn’t be in as good a financial shape as we are without Bill’s guidance,” he said.
Evans pointed to the “very fair-minded” residents of Chenango County. “When presented with the facts, (they) will understand and support the Board of Supervisors efforts during these difficult economic times.”
The full board of supervisors was scheduled to vote on the spending plan this morning.
Before a packed room of department directors and other county government workers, Chairman Richard B. Decker, R-North Norwich, said this year’s budget process was the “most difficult” he’d undertaken in 12 years at the helm.
“The ever-increasing cost of county government is directly attributable to state social service programs,” he said. Medicaid and other social service mandates from the state and federal government increased the county’s local share by $1.3 million.
Decker suggested that a complete take-over of Medicaid at the state level would unburden property taxpayers. He said New York’s “theory of passing the cost of state programs onto the back of county government” had resulted in $4.4 billion collected from upstate counties to cover the cost of only nine state programs (based on 2009 figures).
The tax levy of $23,074,667 is an increased of 1.01 percent from the 2010 fiscal plan. The estimated average countywide tax rate is $12.87; a decrease of approximately .88 cents per 1,000 dollars of countywide assessed property value.
The tentative budget utilizes an extra $2.3 million of surplus funds and adds about $231,000 of real growth of the assessment total for 2011. It also applies $1.2 million of unspent federal stimulus funds.
Chenango County Treasurer William E. Evans, who retires this year after 24 years of public service, said next year’s draft budget marks the sixth consecutive year of average tax rate decrease. The 2011 average rate is $12.87 compared to the 2005 rate of $17.07. Sixty-seven percent of county departments presented either a decreased local share or a very minimal increase, he said.
During the past five years, the board has used more than $11.7 million in surplus to complete major capital projects. No large capital project outlay is planned within the 2011 budget and 2012 will see county government become completely debt free. The estimated $13 to $15 million in unappropriated surplus funds at year end should provide “a solid financial base for general fund operations into the New Year,” the treasurer said.
Evans and Decker thanked department directors and supervisors for maintaining the county’s fiscal position. Decker took the opportunity to acknowledge Evans’ years of service.
“There is no doubt in my mind this county wouldn’t be in as good a financial shape as we are without Bill’s guidance,” he said.
Evans pointed to the “very fair-minded” residents of Chenango County. “When presented with the facts, (they) will understand and support the Board of Supervisors efforts during these difficult economic times.”
The full board of supervisors was scheduled to vote on the spending plan this morning.
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