AUBURN - Cayuga County Ways and Means committee members completed their final 2007 tentative budget recommendation adjustments Monday night, decreasing the taxpayers' share about $700,000.
The original $119 million budget called for a $33.3 million tax levy and an average tax rate of $10.46 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation.
During the past Ways and Means committee meeting, members approved adding $201,715 in expenses but added $998,780 in revenue which would have cut the tax levy by about $800,000.
But Budget Officer George Fearon added back about $100,000 to the budget allotting for five different errors that occurred while creating it.
“Our recommendations changed the levy for the good,” Pappert said.
Committee members estimate a $9 million 2007 unappropriated fund balance once $1.8 is taken out to earmark long-term health care plans for county employee retirees. Fearon had also already proposed using $1.6 million to reduce the tax levy, $890,790 less than in 2005.
In a prior meeting, Fearon explained that the number was reduced to plan for any unknown expenses. On Monday night Fearon suggest setting aside at least $500,000 to pay for fines and penalties that may result from asbestos problems.
“We don't want to go to high or it looks like we are starting a piggy bank at taxpayers' expense,” said David Pappert, Ways and Means Committee chairman.
In other news:
- Ways and Means Committee members voted 5-2 to contract Geomatrix of Liverpool to conduct hazardous site surveying on the county's 52 facilities. Geomatrix conducted the abatement process for removal of asbestos in the county's Board of Elections during the summer.
Committee members want to set aside $165,000 for the project which includes surveying of 52 facilities, creation of operation and maintenance plans and training for employees.
The full Legislature will vote on the contract tonight.
- With a final 6-1 vote, committee members voted to fill a vacant part-time coroner's investigative position. Steve Cuddeback, R-Moravia, voted against filling the position.
“We are putting up a liability to the county if the coroner is only showing up to one-third of calls,” said Peter Tortorici, R-Auburn.
Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kristina.martino@lee.net
During the past Ways and Means committee meeting, members approved adding $201,715 in expenses but added $998,780 in revenue which would have cut the tax levy by about $800,000.
But Budget Officer George Fearon added back about $100,000 to the budget allotting for five different errors that occurred while creating it.
“Our recommendations changed the levy for the good,” Pappert said.
Committee members estimate a $9 million 2007 unappropriated fund balance once $1.8 is taken out to earmark long-term health care plans for county employee retirees. Fearon had also already proposed using $1.6 million to reduce the tax levy, $890,790 less than in 2005.
In a prior meeting, Fearon explained that the number was reduced to plan for any unknown expenses. On Monday night Fearon suggest setting aside at least $500,000 to pay for fines and penalties that may result from asbestos problems.
“We don't want to go to high or it looks like we are starting a piggy bank at taxpayers' expense,” said David Pappert, Ways and Means Committee chairman.
In other news:
- Ways and Means Committee members voted 5-2 to contract Geomatrix of Liverpool to conduct hazardous site surveying on the county's 52 facilities. Geomatrix conducted the abatement process for removal of asbestos in the county's Board of Elections during the summer.
Committee members want to set aside $165,000 for the project which includes surveying of 52 facilities, creation of operation and maintenance plans and training for employees.
The full Legislature will vote on the contract tonight.
- With a final 6-1 vote, committee members voted to fill a vacant part-time coroner's investigative position. Steve Cuddeback, R-Moravia, voted against filling the position.
“We are putting up a liability to the county if the coroner is only showing up to one-third of calls,” said Peter Tortorici, R-Auburn.
Staff writer Kristina Martino can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kristina.martino@lee.net
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