The Cayuga County Legislature filed the county's tentative 2010 budget just before closing time at the County Office Building Friday, barely meeting the Nov. 15 state mandated deadline and leaving little more than a month to approve next year's budget.

The county's $143.18 million 2010 budget, a 2.9 percent increase from last year, includes cuts of already-vacant positions, more money for mandated expenses and a proposed 7.5 percent tax levy increase.

Legislature Chairman Peter Tortorici credited the increase to the rising cost of mandated expenses, specifically salaries, retirement, pension, health insurance and the county's share of foster care and mental health expenses.

“We did a thorough job during the budget process,” said Tortorici. “We wanted to take our time.”

The 2010 budget, which includes a projection of 2011's budget, was filed just days before the state deadline. In the past, the document has been filed by late October or early November. Tortorici credited tardiness to new technology, while legislators said the absence of a county manager was a major factor.

“It slowed things down and it transferred responsibility,” said Legislator George Fearon, R-Springport. “Without the manager in place, people in that (budget) committee had to pick up more responsibility than they would have.”

Legislator Daniel Schuster, D-Auburn, agreed that the county's lack of its chief budget officer, the county manager, slowed the process. But he said is concerned about the budget's quality.

“The committees have already seen the meat of the budget anyway,” Schuster said. Each committee reviewed the budgets of the departments it oversees.

“It's good to see what there's an appetite for and what there isn't,” he said. “This year it's especially useful, for the fact that there wasn't a budget officer.”

Tortorici served as the chief budget officer in the absence of a county manager, who had previously filled the position. He said the budget was a little late this year because the committee was still getting used to the new budget software they used for only the second time. Lateness had nothing to do with firing an integral budget officer this past summer, he said.

“Oh no, nope, not at all,” Tortorici said. “We've had a budget team that's been working on the budget.”

Tortorici put together the budget with a committee that included Ways and Means chair Francis Mitchell, county attorney Fred Westphal, county treasurer James Orman and other legislators. Interim Manager Dominic Mazza also lent a hand in the budget process after being hired in mid October.

“We feel this year's is a good budget,” Tortorici said.

The tentative 2010 budget represents a 2.9 percent increase from 2009's $139.1 million budget. The gross tax levy increased by 7.5 percent, or $2,475,760, from last year. But once increased assessments are accounted for, the average tax rate increase should be about 2.9 percent, Tortorici said.

The county tried to cut costs by eliminating already-vacant positions in every department. No layoffs are expected.

Only three new hires, social workers for the mental health department, are included in the tentative budget, Tortorici said.

A special meeting of the Ways and Means Committee is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 23, to recommend revisions. The committee has until Nov. 28 to give the budget its stamp of approval and pass it on for review by the full Legislature.

The county must approve its completed budget by Dec. 20. Tortorici expected the Legislature to vote on the final budget by Dec. 17.

A public forum will be scheduled before the final vote for residents to weigh-in on the county budget.

Staff writer Sarah Gantz can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or sarah.gantz@lee.net