With all of the focus on Tuesday's primaries and the politics of what some call the “silly season” in full swing, the work of government still needs to get done.
In the case of Cayuga County is a seismic policy change for county government: a capital improvement plan.
For years, if not decades, Cayuga County has taken the approach that “duct tape and baling wire” can fix about almost anything. Well it can't, and when things only get that type of triage, the costs of dealing with long term infrastructure needs tend to skyrocket. Benign neglect is what leads to costly and disruptive roof repairs #- as was seen several years ago at the county office building, and yes, even poorly thought-out plans to remove items such as asbestos-laden boilers.
With that in mind, Cayuga County Manager Wayne Allen, who is coming up on his first anniversary here, has been working with his department heads and others to assess what the capital needs are of Cayuga County #- from basic repairs to installing new items, such as a handicap accessible ramp at the front of the pavilion at Emerson Park.
Since the county has failed to address these needs on a regular basis #- the cost will initially be high. According to one county legislator, the initial projections - which are far from complete both to the extent of what still may be included in a five year plan, as well as what may be cut from requests - is close to $45 million, or nearly half of what Cayuga County spends annually.
Before taxpayers get sticker shock, remember the plan not only needs to be shaped and molded by the county's staff, but also by the members of the Legislature, who, while often chided about what some consider excessive spending habits, have a propensity, like many elected leaders, to put off these types of expenditures and let a successor deal with them.
Remember the old oil filter repair tag line “you can pay me now or you can pay me later?” Local taxpayers should modify this to “you can pay it now or you can pay a lot more later.”
One doesn't need to look very far for such examples. The city's failure in the 1980s to deal with its landfill and sewer needs ended with state mandated consent orders and costly price tags, for the later well over $50 million.
The failure to address the crumbling Owasco sea wall was another glaring example, where the costs could have been significantly lower, if addressed years before.
Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com
For years, if not decades, Cayuga County has taken the approach that “duct tape and baling wire” can fix about almost anything. Well it can't, and when things only get that type of triage, the costs of dealing with long term infrastructure needs tend to skyrocket. Benign neglect is what leads to costly and disruptive roof repairs #- as was seen several years ago at the county office building, and yes, even poorly thought-out plans to remove items such as asbestos-laden boilers.
With that in mind, Cayuga County Manager Wayne Allen, who is coming up on his first anniversary here, has been working with his department heads and others to assess what the capital needs are of Cayuga County #- from basic repairs to installing new items, such as a handicap accessible ramp at the front of the pavilion at Emerson Park.
Since the county has failed to address these needs on a regular basis #- the cost will initially be high. According to one county legislator, the initial projections - which are far from complete both to the extent of what still may be included in a five year plan, as well as what may be cut from requests - is close to $45 million, or nearly half of what Cayuga County spends annually.
Before taxpayers get sticker shock, remember the plan not only needs to be shaped and molded by the county's staff, but also by the members of the Legislature, who, while often chided about what some consider excessive spending habits, have a propensity, like many elected leaders, to put off these types of expenditures and let a successor deal with them.
Remember the old oil filter repair tag line “you can pay me now or you can pay me later?” Local taxpayers should modify this to “you can pay it now or you can pay a lot more later.”
One doesn't need to look very far for such examples. The city's failure in the 1980s to deal with its landfill and sewer needs ended with state mandated consent orders and costly price tags, for the later well over $50 million.
The failure to address the crumbling Owasco sea wall was another glaring example, where the costs could have been significantly lower, if addressed years before.
Cosentino is a former mayor of Auburn and can be contacted at cozguytho@aol.com
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