AUBURN - Cayuga County legislators made some additions to and subtractions from the tentative spending plan Tuesday before adopting a 2008 budget that carries a 1.4 percent tax levy increase.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Pam McIntyre holds a sign in support of county funding for mental health services during Tuesday night's budget meeting of the Cayuga County Legislature.
Pam McIntyre holds a sign in support of county funding for mental health services during Tuesday night's budget meeting of the Cayuga County Legislature.
An hour-long public hearing included more than a half-dozen voices showing support for the Community Mental Health Center, which saw about $151,000 added to its budget. A crowd of about 30 mental health clients, staff and supporters waved handmade signs and cheered as speakers pleaded for curbed cuts.
“They've done so much for me and I feel with all their funding, they can do so much more for others like me,” said George Jones, a disabled veteran speaking on behalf of the Community Mental Health Center. “I used to stay at home and keep all of my life problems inside.”
The mental health center has taught him how to cope with life's stresses, he said. In addition to testimony from several clients, legislators heard from some staff members who defended the department's director, David Blair.
“Let me assure you that the budget and the decisions you make affect peoples lives,” mental health employee Flora Gagliostro said. “I'm here to support the restoration of staff to mental health, our director and our board as well.”
In addition to recovering from state sanctions lodged because of poor facilities and service issues, Blair faces county accusations that he accepted a check from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill for personal use.
“That man has never let anyone down - staff or client,” mental health employee Peggy Lattimore said, referring to Blair and garnering applause. “We need him to lead us as he's done for the last 20 years.
“This man wouldn't take a dime from anyone,” she added. “I've seen this man give donations to NAMI, not take from them.”
The county Legislature agreed to fund a part-time psychiatrist and mental health nurse position as well as add a vehicle to the Community Mental Health Center fleet. However, those additions are necessary to assure the department receives certain state funding.
Legislator Daniel Schuster noted there may have been some confusion about what legislators had planned to cut from the mental health budget. The Ways and Means Committee had recommended freezing Blair's salary and holding off on an $18,000 van as well as the vacant psychiatrist position.
“I don't think the Legislature has ever discussed whether to cut programs from mental health,” said Schuster, D-Auburn, turning his attention to employees who've frequently defended the department's service. “From what I can see, there are some services that aren't up to par.
“The role of the staff is not to try to convince the Legislature there is not a problem (with services), we know there's a problem,” he said, citing the state sanctions. “Their job is to go ahead and fix the damn problem.”
The additions to mental health were just some of about $640,000 in increases the Legislature approved Tuesday. Legislators added $145,000 for a Highway Department dump truck, $120,000 for computers and routers for Information Technology, $67,000 for Emerson Park improvements and $30,000 for Emergency Management Department fire investigators.
The board declined to go with a self-insured workers' compensation plan beginning Jan. 1, which added about $221,000 to the budget. That cost, along with about $372,000 in capital expenses, will be covered by use of the unexpended fund balance, which legislators raised from $1.7 million in the tentative to about $2.2 million in what they adopted.
David Pappert, R-Auburn, suggested setting aside another $500,000 in unexpended funds for help with pending lawsuits related to illegal asbestos removal in the Board of Elections building. Fellow legislators defeated that motion as well as another by Pappert to set aside $1.8 million for future retiree health benefit costs.
Pappert and Michele Sedor, D-Sennett, cast no votes in a 11-2 tally adopting the 2008 budget.
“I don't think its fair to push those issues onto our children,” Sedor said in reference to the Pappert motions.
She said she would have supported something that included consideration for lawsuit and future retiree costs, adding the legislature set some funds aside last year. Legislature Chairman George Fearon, R-Springport, said he was pleased with the final budget and that retiree and other future costs can be considered later.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
By the numbers
The adopted 2008 Cayuga County budget:
• Spending: Up 3.8 percent, or about $5 million, from $133 million to $138 million
• Tax levy: Up 1.4 percent, or about $455,000, from $31.6 million to $32.1 million
• Tax rate: To be determined, variable by municipality
• Fund balance: Down 1.5 percent, or about $397,000, from $2.7 million to $2.3 million
“They've done so much for me and I feel with all their funding, they can do so much more for others like me,” said George Jones, a disabled veteran speaking on behalf of the Community Mental Health Center. “I used to stay at home and keep all of my life problems inside.”
The mental health center has taught him how to cope with life's stresses, he said. In addition to testimony from several clients, legislators heard from some staff members who defended the department's director, David Blair.
“Let me assure you that the budget and the decisions you make affect peoples lives,” mental health employee Flora Gagliostro said. “I'm here to support the restoration of staff to mental health, our director and our board as well.”
In addition to recovering from state sanctions lodged because of poor facilities and service issues, Blair faces county accusations that he accepted a check from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill for personal use.
“That man has never let anyone down - staff or client,” mental health employee Peggy Lattimore said, referring to Blair and garnering applause. “We need him to lead us as he's done for the last 20 years.
“This man wouldn't take a dime from anyone,” she added. “I've seen this man give donations to NAMI, not take from them.”
The county Legislature agreed to fund a part-time psychiatrist and mental health nurse position as well as add a vehicle to the Community Mental Health Center fleet. However, those additions are necessary to assure the department receives certain state funding.
Legislator Daniel Schuster noted there may have been some confusion about what legislators had planned to cut from the mental health budget. The Ways and Means Committee had recommended freezing Blair's salary and holding off on an $18,000 van as well as the vacant psychiatrist position.
“I don't think the Legislature has ever discussed whether to cut programs from mental health,” said Schuster, D-Auburn, turning his attention to employees who've frequently defended the department's service. “From what I can see, there are some services that aren't up to par.
“The role of the staff is not to try to convince the Legislature there is not a problem (with services), we know there's a problem,” he said, citing the state sanctions. “Their job is to go ahead and fix the damn problem.”
The additions to mental health were just some of about $640,000 in increases the Legislature approved Tuesday. Legislators added $145,000 for a Highway Department dump truck, $120,000 for computers and routers for Information Technology, $67,000 for Emerson Park improvements and $30,000 for Emergency Management Department fire investigators.
The board declined to go with a self-insured workers' compensation plan beginning Jan. 1, which added about $221,000 to the budget. That cost, along with about $372,000 in capital expenses, will be covered by use of the unexpended fund balance, which legislators raised from $1.7 million in the tentative to about $2.2 million in what they adopted.
David Pappert, R-Auburn, suggested setting aside another $500,000 in unexpended funds for help with pending lawsuits related to illegal asbestos removal in the Board of Elections building. Fellow legislators defeated that motion as well as another by Pappert to set aside $1.8 million for future retiree health benefit costs.
Pappert and Michele Sedor, D-Sennett, cast no votes in a 11-2 tally adopting the 2008 budget.
“I don't think its fair to push those issues onto our children,” Sedor said in reference to the Pappert motions.
She said she would have supported something that included consideration for lawsuit and future retiree costs, adding the legislature set some funds aside last year. Legislature Chairman George Fearon, R-Springport, said he was pleased with the final budget and that retiree and other future costs can be considered later.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
By the numbers
The adopted 2008 Cayuga County budget:
• Spending: Up 3.8 percent, or about $5 million, from $133 million to $138 million
• Tax levy: Up 1.4 percent, or about $455,000, from $31.6 million to $32.1 million
• Tax rate: To be determined, variable by municipality
• Fund balance: Down 1.5 percent, or about $397,000, from $2.7 million to $2.3 million
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DD wrote on Dec 13, 2007 9:26 AM: