2018 ALLEGANY COUNTY TENTATIVE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING NOVEMBER 9, 2017

Transcription

1 2018 ALLEGANY COUNTY TENTATIVE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING NOVEMBER 9, 2017 CALL TO ORDER: The Public Hearing on the 2018 Allegany County Tentative Budget was declared open at 7:09 p.m. by Chairman Curtis W. Crandall PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chairman Crandall. ROLL CALL: Legislators Present: Curtis Crandall, Dwight Fanton, Karl Graves, Dwight (Mike) Healy, Charles Jessup, Kevin LaForge, Debra Root (Absent: Scott Burt, Philip Curran, David Decker, Judith Hopkins, Aaron McGraw, Timothy O Grady, Philip Stockin, Norman Ungermann, Jr.) ALSO PRESENT: L. Ballengee, T. Boyde, C. Crandall, S. Decker, K. Dirlam, L. Edwards, M. Hennessy, K. Hollis, R. Hollis, G. James, T. Miner, K. Monroe, B. Riehle, T. Ross, R. Whitney Chairman Curtis Crandall gave a Power Point presentation which included information on the County Budget process. Data from the slides is shown below: Financial Position General Fund Balance History Chairman Crandall noted the negative numbers in the years 2003 and The Fund Balance in 2016 was over $33 million.

2 Page 2 of 8 Total Unappropriated General Fund Balance Financial Position Debt Analysis ( )

3 Page 3 of 8 Chairman Crandall remarked that the debt analysis chart is very telling of where we were with our debt in 2003 and The County was having to borrow money to cover operating expenses. As of 2016, all debt except for capital debt is gone. In 2017, our debt totals $24.6 million and is decreasing Budget Funding Sources

4 Page 4 of Appropriations Property Tax Rate The tentative tax rate for 2018 is $14.98 per thousand. This is less than the 2006 tax rate.

5 Page 5 of 8 Top 7 Mandated Programs Fifty cents of every tax dollar of our property taxes are used to fund mandated programs. Allegany County Taxes Remain Too High. What is the Allegany County Board of Legislators doing to improve the situation; Reduced the Property Tax Rate eight years straight Eight-year reduction = 11.52% or $1.95 per thousand Investing in economic development Maintaining a solid financial position Avoiding interest costs: paid bonds off early and retirement incentive bill at the front end Paying for large purchases, rather than borrowing

6 County Administrator Timothy Boyde read the following message: 2018 County Budget, Public Hearing, 11/9/17 Page 6 of 8 Good Evening and welcome to tonight s Public Hearing on the proposed Tentative Operating Budget for The purpose of this hearing is to afford the public with an opportunity to become familiar with our proposed spending plan on behalf of the citizens of Allegany County. Further, the public will be afforded the opportunity to ask questions about the contents of the spending plan as well as provide comment for the members of the Board of Legislators. The Operating Budget was compiled with input from the County Department Heads, County Treasurer, and the Legislative Budget Committee. Our plan was compiled, presented, reviewed, and approved by the full Board of the Legislature on October 10, It was released for public review on that date as well. The format we will follow tonight in reviewing the Tentative Budget is identical to the format we have used for several years. If you do not have a copy of the Tentative Budget and would like one, they are available on a table just outside the back of the room. The Appropriations portion of the Budget, which is the only portion we review during the Public Hearing, is comprised of 18 major cost centers beginning with General Governmental Support and ending with Debt Service Fund. The Clerk of the Board will read the total appropriated amount for each major cost center. We will then pause and ask if anyone has a question or comment with regard to that specific cost center or any departmental budget contained in that cost center. Once questions have been addressed, or if there are no questions or comments, we will proceed until we have worked through the entire budget. On a final note, I would like to remind those in attendance that the sole purpose of this hearing is to address the Tentative Budget. This hearing is not intended as a forum to debate the value or necessity of particular County agencies or programs. Anyone who has a desire to express his or her opinion with regard to individual programs or services should do so with your elected legislative representatives at another time. If, during this Public Hearing, you wish to address the Board of Legislators, please state your name and identify the town in which you live. County Administrator and Budget Officer Timothy Boyde requested that his message be read by the Clerk of the Board. The 2018 Tentative Budget, which is the subject of tonight s public hearing, is a joint effort of the County budget staff, the Budget Committee of the Board of Legislators, and our Department Heads. The Tentative Budget, when taking into account all nine major appropriation funds, totals $118,518,953. Offsetting these appropriations are anticipated revenues of $84,128,767, appropriated reserves of $105,400, and appropriated fund balance of $4,851,000 leaving a balance of $29,433,786 to be raised in County property tax to balance the budget. The property tax levy necessary to balance the 2018 Tentative Budget represents a decrease of $938,549 (3.09%) from the property tax levy contained in the Final 2017 County Budget. The Average County Property Tax Rate for 2018 has decreased by $1.08 per

7 Page 7 of 8 thousand dollars of assessed value as compared to the 2017 Average County Property Tax Rate. The 2017 Rate was $16.05 per thousand dollars of assessed value. The 2018 Rate is $14.97 per thousand. It is expected that a Final County Budget will be adopted by the Board of Legislators at its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, November 27, at 2:00 p.m. Mr. Boyde explained the procedure for the hearing. The Clerk of the Board read each major category of the Budget Appropriations, along with the corresponding total. Total General Government Support $8,647,168 Total Education $2,553,785 Total Public Safety $11,099,100 Total Health $5,783,836 Total Bus Transportation $1,122,000 Total Economic Assistance & Opportunity $34,177,699 Total Culture & Recreation $285,559 Total Home & Community Services $2,674,392 Total Undistributed $23,931,983 (Employee Benefits & Interfund Transfers) Grand Total General Fund $90,275,522 Total WIA Grant Fund $1,041,135 Total Risk Retention Fund $291,000 Total Risk Retention Health $8,118,000 Grand Total County Road Fund $11,855,044 Total Road Machinery Fund $1,552,252 Total Capital Projects Fund $1,867,000 Total Self Insurance Fund $900,000 Total Debt Service Fund $2,619,000 Total Appropriations for 2018 $118,518,953

8 Page 8 of 8 Kate Hollis asked where to find the final number read by the Clerk of the Board. Ms. Riehle stated that number is the Total Appropriations and it can be found on the summary page. Chairman Crandall noted that there will be some minor adjustments which will be addressed at the Committee of the Whole meeting on November 13. Any necessary adjustments will be made by resolution. ADJOURNMENT: The Public Hearing was closed at 7:46 p.m.