Who is responsible for the mess in county government?
Villages and towns have recently received copies of the New York State Comptroller's Report of Examination on the county treasurer's office health insurance billings. In this report, the comptroller's office has upheld the Treasurer David Farrell's contention that the members of the Health Insurance Consortium were underbilled for health insurance premiums for the period 2001 through 2003.
The question of why it took the county treasurer three years to advise the villages and towns is one that has been asked repeatedly, but never answered to anyone's satisfaction.
The treasurer's office should have notified everyone as soon as the January invoice was received with the correct premium. This would have given all villages a chance to include the proper premium in their budgeting and would have allowed towns to amend their budgets immediately.
As for the contention that the villages and towns "saved money" by grouping together, that was dispelled at the meeting held in December 2003 where the Blue Cross/Blue Shield representative advised us that we would have paid the same rates as individual units that we did in the consortium. In fact, most of the villages and towns have saved money since leaving the consortium because they selected less expensive insurance; something that Mr. Farrell always advised us was not an option.
The big question that has yet to be asked is: Where were the county legislators during the period that Mr. Farrell was transferring money from the General Fund to cover these shortages? All village treasurers and town bookkeepers are well aware of state regulations regarding transfers.
Every year when budget time arrives, county legislators call for personnel cuts and money saving methods to be utilized. Why didn't someone on the Legislature question the large transfers from the General Fund? Is there no one on the Legislature knowledgeable enough to understand how a budget works?
The Citizen columnist Guy Cosentino contends that now that it has been confirmed that these monies are owed the county, the Legislature should pursue collection. Without all the details most people would agree. But, since the health insurance consortium has been so poorly handled, how can any town or village have faith that sales tax distributions, mortgage tax distributions or charges for Workers' Compensation have been properly computed.
How can any town or village board or any member of the public have any faith that the men and women we elected to serve on the county Legislature are doing their job? Perhaps it is time for a complete cleaning of the house. All of the legislators who were in office during this fiasco should be held accountable to their constituents and explain why and how something of this magnitude could happen without their awareness. They have let down all the residents of Cayuga County. All of the legislators who were in office during the period in question should resign immediately.
Kreplin is the clerk/treasurer of the village of Weedsport
The question of why it took the county treasurer three years to advise the villages and towns is one that has been asked repeatedly, but never answered to anyone's satisfaction.
The treasurer's office should have notified everyone as soon as the January invoice was received with the correct premium. This would have given all villages a chance to include the proper premium in their budgeting and would have allowed towns to amend their budgets immediately.
As for the contention that the villages and towns "saved money" by grouping together, that was dispelled at the meeting held in December 2003 where the Blue Cross/Blue Shield representative advised us that we would have paid the same rates as individual units that we did in the consortium. In fact, most of the villages and towns have saved money since leaving the consortium because they selected less expensive insurance; something that Mr. Farrell always advised us was not an option.
The big question that has yet to be asked is: Where were the county legislators during the period that Mr. Farrell was transferring money from the General Fund to cover these shortages? All village treasurers and town bookkeepers are well aware of state regulations regarding transfers.
Every year when budget time arrives, county legislators call for personnel cuts and money saving methods to be utilized. Why didn't someone on the Legislature question the large transfers from the General Fund? Is there no one on the Legislature knowledgeable enough to understand how a budget works?
The Citizen columnist Guy Cosentino contends that now that it has been confirmed that these monies are owed the county, the Legislature should pursue collection. Without all the details most people would agree. But, since the health insurance consortium has been so poorly handled, how can any town or village have faith that sales tax distributions, mortgage tax distributions or charges for Workers' Compensation have been properly computed.
How can any town or village board or any member of the public have any faith that the men and women we elected to serve on the county Legislature are doing their job? Perhaps it is time for a complete cleaning of the house. All of the legislators who were in office during this fiasco should be held accountable to their constituents and explain why and how something of this magnitude could happen without their awareness. They have let down all the residents of Cayuga County. All of the legislators who were in office during the period in question should resign immediately.
Kreplin is the clerk/treasurer of the village of Weedsport
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.