Tompkins County Officials Prepare For Spending Cuts

More than a million tax dollars are being put aside in the Tompkins County budget to prepare for changes in the New York state budget, Tompkins County administrator Steve Whicher said in a press conference Monday.

“We’re hoping it’s an adequate amount, but if state taxes exceed that amount, I wouldn’t be surprised,” he said.

Despite giving an overview of the basic goals of the county’s 2009 budget, Whicher stressed that everything is only tentative until state elections are completed in early November. Final vote on the budget will occur during the third week of November once Tompkins County officials have a better gauge on how state budget cuts will affect the availability of overall funding, Whicher said.

The move to place so much money in reserve comes in response to the summer announcement of Gov. Paterson, in which he said the state was in a recession that would require significantly reduced spending next year. Whicher speculates some programs may be cut by as much as 10 percent to 15 percent for 2009, but it is still unclear as to which ones will take such a hit if it is necessary.

“We’re not going to make reductions right now because we don’t have all the information,” he said. “Everybody’s treated the same way.”

Much of the final plans for the 2009 budget hinge upon the upcoming developments within the New York State budget, but the basic tentative plans were gone over. The tax levy is set to increase by just below 3 percent, achieving the goal of the Legislature. However, the tax rate will drop by 13.7 percent.

The Highway Department is planning to shift costs from State Roads to County Roads, which should save $70,000 once the differing plowing costs are realized, since the state was shortchanging its reimbursement of Tompkins County. Necessary new equipment for the department will also be purchased with a limit on rental equipment, which would raise costs in the long run.

“We’re going to direct [the Highway Department] to the fund balance for the next couple years as they try to stabilize the levy,” executive assistant to the county administrator Norma Jayne said.

The Highway Department’s balance will increase by about $2.5 million, constituting a 25 percent increase in funding according to Whicher.

Controversy over the tri-owned TCAT bus system was also addressed, as the city of Ithaca has not followed the lead of Tompkins County and Cornell to increase funding for bus fuel, despite the ever-rising cost of diesel fuel.

“There’s a lot of political pressure on the city to cough up the money,” Whicher said. “We think public transportation is something that should be invested in, especially at this day in age.”

To tackle the issue of jail overcrowding, Whicher spoke of plans for Tompkins to team up with another county to build a facility for sentenced people. However, there are no aims to create a large-scale jail of any kind. “Our philosophy is, if you build it, they will come,” Whicher said.