AUBURN - Cayuga County Manager Wayne Allen rolled out the tentative 2008 budget featuring a 5.8 percent property tax levy increase Thursday.
The $136 million spending plan carries an average $10.16 per $1,000 of assessed property value tax rate, 2.1 percent higher than this year's, though that figure will vary by municipality. In the city, the rate would drop about 20 cents, from $9.05 per $1,000 this year to $8.85.
Once again, salaries, benefits and state mandates most heavily influenced the $3.4 million, or 2.6 percent, increase in county spending, Allen said. Nearly $45 million would go toward salary and fringe benefits in 2008 under the tentative budget.
“Half of your levy comes from social services,” he said, referring to the tentative $33.5 million to be raised by taxes. “It's something nobody can stop.”
A state cap on Medicaid has helped. This year's increase in social service spending, which totals about $18.6 million, represents less than a percent.
However, Allen predicts tighter state and federal budgets in 2009 will negate the break.
“They're not generating enough state income so they're not going to have the revenue to support their services,” Allen said. “We're forced to pick up a bigger piece.”
In one of 14 recommendations to the Legislature, Allen suggests the county evaluate which retiring employees will need to be replaced and investigate ways to deliver mandated services at a lesser cost. Allen is also recommending the addition of five full-time and four part-time employees.
A part-time auditor would go over county vouchers weekly, a full-time purchasing agent would centralize spending and a full-time economic development specialist would do more networking on behalf of the county.
The tentative budget includes about $1 million less in fund balance than this year's. Allen is recommending the county reduce it's dependence on unexpended funds to soften the tax levy and apply more to smaller projects.
“It's a starting point,” said Legislature Chairman George Fearon, R-Springport. “It'll be a lot trimmer by the time the legislature adopts it.”
Along with his first tentative budget, Allen presented Legislators with a five-year capital improvement plan. The plan would use a mix of borrowing, grants and fund balance transfers to improve all county buildings over time.
“I think it's a workable plan, I think it suits the need of the county,” Allen said. “It's a good place to start from.”
The plan and budget will make its way through the Ways and Mean Committee, which meets for work sessions at 6 p.m. Nov. 5, Nov. 12, Nov. 15 and Nov. 20. The full legislature must adopt a 2008 budget by Dec. 20.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
By the numbers
Cayuga County 2008 tentative budget:
• Spending: $132,986,974, up 2.6 percent
• Tax levy: $33,498,562, up 5.8 percent
• Tax rate: $10.16 per $1,000 of assessed value, up 2.1 percent *
• Unexpended fund balance: $1.7 million
* Tentative tax rate varies by municipality
Tentative 2008 tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value by municipality:
Auburn $8.85, down 2.16 percent
Aurelius $8.93, down 0.06 percent
Cayuga $9.06, up 0.13 percent
Brutus $8.76, down 16.74 percent
Weedsport $8.84, down 16.94 percent
Cato (town) $9.23, up 2.08 percent
Cato (village in Cato) $9.30, up 2.08 percent
Cato (village in Ira) $8.85, down 1.92 percent
Meridian $9.34, up 2.08 percent
Conquest $10.30, down 2.11 percent
Fleming $21.19, up 12.11 percent
Genoa $10.92, up 3.97 percent
Ira $8.83, down 2.15 percent
Ledyard $12.30, up 11.55 percent
Aurora $12.24, up 11.51 percent
Locke $9.59, up 5.47 percent
Mentz $10.69, up 1.40 percent
Port Byron $10.78, up 1.18 percent
Montezuma $9.64, up 6.37 percent
Moravia (town) $12.72, up 3.99 percent
Moravia (village) $12.78, up 3.60 percent
Niles $10.14, up 8.26 percent
Owasco $10.56, up 5.58 percent
Scipio $9.39, up 5.32 percent
Sempronius $21.98, up 5.98 percent
Sennett $10.01, up 5.71 percent
Springport $8.91, down 0.09 percent
Union Springs $8.99, down 0.10 percent
Sterling $10.96, up 8.73 percent
Fair Haven $10.88, up 8.54 percent
Summerhill $12.57, up 9.34 percent
Throop $12.64, up 8.29 percent
Venice $10.44, up 3.76 percent
Victory $8.81, down 2.14 percent
Once again, salaries, benefits and state mandates most heavily influenced the $3.4 million, or 2.6 percent, increase in county spending, Allen said. Nearly $45 million would go toward salary and fringe benefits in 2008 under the tentative budget.
“Half of your levy comes from social services,” he said, referring to the tentative $33.5 million to be raised by taxes. “It's something nobody can stop.”
A state cap on Medicaid has helped. This year's increase in social service spending, which totals about $18.6 million, represents less than a percent.
However, Allen predicts tighter state and federal budgets in 2009 will negate the break.
“They're not generating enough state income so they're not going to have the revenue to support their services,” Allen said. “We're forced to pick up a bigger piece.”
In one of 14 recommendations to the Legislature, Allen suggests the county evaluate which retiring employees will need to be replaced and investigate ways to deliver mandated services at a lesser cost. Allen is also recommending the addition of five full-time and four part-time employees.
A part-time auditor would go over county vouchers weekly, a full-time purchasing agent would centralize spending and a full-time economic development specialist would do more networking on behalf of the county.
The tentative budget includes about $1 million less in fund balance than this year's. Allen is recommending the county reduce it's dependence on unexpended funds to soften the tax levy and apply more to smaller projects.
“It's a starting point,” said Legislature Chairman George Fearon, R-Springport. “It'll be a lot trimmer by the time the legislature adopts it.”
Along with his first tentative budget, Allen presented Legislators with a five-year capital improvement plan. The plan would use a mix of borrowing, grants and fund balance transfers to improve all county buildings over time.
“I think it's a workable plan, I think it suits the need of the county,” Allen said. “It's a good place to start from.”
The plan and budget will make its way through the Ways and Mean Committee, which meets for work sessions at 6 p.m. Nov. 5, Nov. 12, Nov. 15 and Nov. 20. The full legislature must adopt a 2008 budget by Dec. 20.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
By the numbers
Cayuga County 2008 tentative budget:
• Spending: $132,986,974, up 2.6 percent
• Tax levy: $33,498,562, up 5.8 percent
• Tax rate: $10.16 per $1,000 of assessed value, up 2.1 percent *
• Unexpended fund balance: $1.7 million
* Tentative tax rate varies by municipality
Tentative 2008 tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value by municipality:
Auburn $8.85, down 2.16 percent
Aurelius $8.93, down 0.06 percent
Cayuga $9.06, up 0.13 percent
Brutus $8.76, down 16.74 percent
Weedsport $8.84, down 16.94 percent
Cato (town) $9.23, up 2.08 percent
Cato (village in Cato) $9.30, up 2.08 percent
Cato (village in Ira) $8.85, down 1.92 percent
Meridian $9.34, up 2.08 percent
Conquest $10.30, down 2.11 percent
Fleming $21.19, up 12.11 percent
Genoa $10.92, up 3.97 percent
Ira $8.83, down 2.15 percent
Ledyard $12.30, up 11.55 percent
Aurora $12.24, up 11.51 percent
Locke $9.59, up 5.47 percent
Mentz $10.69, up 1.40 percent
Port Byron $10.78, up 1.18 percent
Montezuma $9.64, up 6.37 percent
Moravia (town) $12.72, up 3.99 percent
Moravia (village) $12.78, up 3.60 percent
Niles $10.14, up 8.26 percent
Owasco $10.56, up 5.58 percent
Scipio $9.39, up 5.32 percent
Sempronius $21.98, up 5.98 percent
Sennett $10.01, up 5.71 percent
Springport $8.91, down 0.09 percent
Union Springs $8.99, down 0.10 percent
Sterling $10.96, up 8.73 percent
Fair Haven $10.88, up 8.54 percent
Summerhill $12.57, up 9.34 percent
Throop $12.64, up 8.29 percent
Venice $10.44, up 3.76 percent
Victory $8.81, down 2.14 percent
The Citizens' Say
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