Members of the Board of Legislators $ 9,000 Vice-Chair of the Board of Legislators 11,000 Chair of the Board of Legislators 14,000

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1 St. Lawrence County Public Hearing Board of Legislators Monday, November 22, 2010 Board Room 7:00 p.m. Chair Paquin called the Public Hearing to order at 7:00 p.m. The Deputy Clerk read the call to the Public Hearing: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Legislators of the County of St. Lawrence will meet at the Board of Legislators Chambers, Court House, Canton, New York, at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, the 22nd day of November, for the purpose of holding a public hearing on the 2011 Tentative Budget of said County for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2011, and FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that copies of said Tentative Budget are available at the Office of the Clerk of Board of Legislators at Canton, New York, where they may be inspected or procured by any interested person during business hours. Pursuant to Section 359 of the County Law, the maximum salaries that may be fixed and payable during said fiscal year to members of said Board of Legislators and to the Chair thereof, respectively, are hereby specified as follows: Members of the Board of Legislators $ 9,000 Vice-Chair of the Board of Legislators 11,000 Chair of the Board of Legislators 14,000 THE BUDGET SUMMARY IS AS FOLLOWS: APPROPRIATIONS TOTAL BUDGET General Government Support $ 48,594,441 Education 864,251 Public Safety 16,302,533 Health 21,315,550 Transportation 19,070,134 Economic Development 3,888,166 Social Services 69,122,957 Culture & Recreation 356,672 Home & Community Services 4,801,175 Undistributed 47,744,071 TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS $232,059,950 By Order of the Board of Legislators Chair Paquin asked if anyone wished to comment: Mr. Patrick Green introduced himself as a starving rancher from Lisbon, and provided a written copy of his statements requesting they be recorded verbatim: FOR THE RECORD BOARD OF ST. LAW. CO LEGISLATORS NOVEMBER 22, :00 P.M. In a Democracy (mob rule) if 51% of the people are dependent on the government, be it wages, Power for jobs, PILOTS, tax exemptions, low interest loans, grants, entitlements, ect. And they all voted for a 4% increase in school taxes, land taxes, income taxes, wages, ect. every year (taxes do not pay taxes) would it be sustainable? St. Law. County's tentative budget is million, of that 44 million is the county's levy. 26 million comes from New York State (55.1 billion debt) (5.6 billion debt services, 3 billion retired, 2.6 billion 1

2 interest last year), 25 million the Federal government (13.7 trillion debt, 2015 projected interest 739 billion. We are indeed in dire straights. One of the founding principles of our Republic (Thank God) was the principle that the town (being closest to the people) was the pinnacle of said Republic, then the county, the state, the Federal government. We had economic prosperity and reasonable government. A return to this common sense principle is paramount to the rebuilding of America (not remade). Many changes are in the future of St. Law. County and there's no time like the present to begin. Here are a few suggestions: Revisit the IDA, know the tax base surrender wages paid to the individuals of the administration, cost per job created in both taxes lost and administration wages, contact New York First to see if the IDA is redundant. Dissolve the County Administration position (We had no need for a consultant to take 3 or 4 million a year from the slush fund), freeze all county workers wages retroactive to 2008 (prevent layoffs). Discontinue the bare road winter policy and encourage towns to do the same (drive slow leave early), no new Taxes or fees (cuts), enforce Federal Immigration Laws (harboring is a Federal Felony, 5 years per illegal), more scrutiny on money for studies and consultants;-(didn't Eve have a consultant in the Garden of Eden)? Promote individual enterprise not individual entitlements, (farm land is our major resource) local milk, cheese, and canning, plants, slaughter houses, can add value to what St. Law County produces. Municipal power county wide, power and transmission lines, reclaiming the that belongs to us from Hawkins Point would be a magnet for enterprise. Interstate 98? The Federal, State, County, and Town Government "Must focus on the basics and dismiss the frivolous and excessive." Also watch the movie Cars and think Radiator Springs. End the unethical (practice of those, or those who have spouses, relatives, friends, partners, etc. who are dependent on government largess of deciding on wages for other government workers. Beware that we live in Northern Appalachia and have yet to experience what has already happen economically elsewhere. To take away the cost of living raises, raise the retirement age of our retires, burden our children's with debt and at the same time give raises to government workers is not only immoral it is euthanasia. Anyone voting for this budget is guilty of the same. Patrick J. Green (Squaw Creek Cattle Co.) Mr. MacKinnon moved to adjourn the Public Hearing at 7:09 p.m., as no one else wished to speak, seconded by Mr. Forsythe, and carried by a voice vote with three (3) Legislators absent (Brothers, Girard, and House). St. Lawrence County Special Board Meeting Board of Legislators Monday, November 22, 2010 Board Room Immediately following the Public Hearing Chair Paquin called the meeting to order at 7:09 p.m. ROLL CALL: All Legislators were present with the exception of Ms. Brothers, Mr. Girard, and Mr. House. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION - No one wished to speak. PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS: RESOLUTION NO ADOPTION OF THE 2011 BUDGET By Mr. FitzRandolph, Chair, Finance Committee WHEREAS, the Budget Officer s 2011 Tentative Budget has been reviewed by the Finance Committee, and WHEREAS, the Board, at a Special Meeting on November 15, 2010, modified the 2011 Tentative Budget as recommended by the Finance Committee, and 2

3 WHEREAS, a Public Hearing on the 2011 Tentative Budget, As Modified, was held on November 22, 2010, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the 2011 Tentative Budget, As Modified, is hereby adopted with said budget requiring the raising by real property taxes in the amount of $43,963,521, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the St. Lawrence County 2011 Tentative Budget, As Modified, be distributed in the funds as per Exhibit A and Exhibit B of said Budget, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Legislators directs that the Clerk of the Board of Legislators to establish the St. Lawrence County Tax Levy for the year 2011 in the amount of $43,963, BUDGET SUMMARY EXHIBIT A: APPROPRIATIONS TOTAL BUDGET General Government Support $48,594,441 $48,629,427 Education 864,251 Public Safety 16,302,533 Health 21,315,550 Transportation 19,070,134 Economic Development 3,888,166 Social Services 69,122,957 Culture & Recreation 356,672 Home & Community Services 4,801,175 Undistributed 47,744,071 EXHIBIT B: TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS $232,059,950 $232,094,936 REVENUE Departmental Revenue $ 77,203,747 State Aid 26,026,454 Federal Aid 25,347,670 Sales Tax 39,500,000 Appropriated Surplus 5,844,086 5,879,073 Inter-Fund Transfers 14,174,471 Amount to be Raised by Taxes 43,963,521 TOTAL REVENUE $232,059,950 $232,094, Final Adopted Budget Fin Com and Fin Com and 3

4 Budget Element Adopted Tentative FIN COM Tentative Budget 2011 Adopted COUNTY COST 42,558,386 50,128,960 49,807,607 49,842, ,353 7,249,221 7,284,207 Appropriated Surplus -25,752 5,844,086 5,844,086 5,879, ,986 5,869,838 5,904,824 Proposed Levy 42,584,138 44,284,874 43,963, ,353 1,379,383 Assessed Valuation 5,230,374,217 5,272,009,397 5,272,009, ,635,180 Estimated Tax Rate per $1000 AV Change in County Cost 17.79% 17.03% -0.64% 17.03% Change in Approp. Sur % 0.00% 0.00% % Change in Levy 3.99% 3.24% -0.73% 3.24% Change in True Value Tax Rate 3.17% 2.42% -0.73% 2.42% * * * Mr. FitzRandolph moved to adopt Resolution No , seconded by Mr. Peck and Ms. Cobb. Ms. Perry pointed out that she is compelled to bring forward the Director of Information Technology again. She introduced three members of the IT Committee that were in attendance (William Hunter, Jennifer French, David Wurzburg). Ms. Perry said would like to relay a message from the IT Committee that the IT Director position is important and that one of the roles of the IT Director is to find efficiencies which would add money to the Budget. Ms. Perry moved to amend the Budget by adding the Director of IT back into the 2011 Budget for one half of the year, seconded by Mr. Turbett and Mr. FitzRandolph. Ms. Perry said the motion for one half year s salary is an effort to find compromise. She said there are several projects underway going into 2011, adding she thinks Mr. Zimmerman would agree, that the current situation is working and will work while those projects are being implemented. She said this is not a long term solution and there are other things on the horizon that the current situation would not be well suited for. She added that the start date would be near the end of June Mr. Morrill said he did not have an opportunity to speak to this before now and he believes this position is extremely important, but he is not sure if we can or should increase the tax rate at this point. He would like to see this as part of the appropriated surplus taking whatever the amount is from surplus. Chair Paquin requested Ms. Perry clarify if her intention is to take the funds from surplus or increase the tax rate. Ms. Perry replied surplus. Mr. Peck asked for the specific dollar amount to be used. Ms. Doyle said $34,986 including 5% for Social Security. Mr. Turbett said he will vote in favor of the motion. He said this is a case of penny wise/pound foolish. He said the amount that will be spent on IT services will far outweigh this cost, adding that the savings in terms of time and workforce will also be dramatic. He said there could be issues because the IT system is in distress and something could break, adding that up till now we have dodged major disasters. He also said if we are going to have to shrink County government and make less people do more work, IT is one of the ways to 4

5 accomplish that. Mr. Peck said he supported the Nutrition Site in DeKalb, and so did Ms. Perry. He will support this as well as it is important to her. The amendment carried by a voice vote with twelve (12) yes votes, and three (3) Legislators absent (Brothers, House, and Girard). Mr. Burns thanked the County Administrator and said she had done a remarkable job on this Budget. He said everyone has worked hard to prepare this Budget. He would have liked for the tax rate to have been lower. He stated that Ms. Perry worked hard to convince others of what was important to her and she was able to convince the rest of us of that. He added that he believes all positions are important but we need to understand that if we have fewer rank and file, we would require fewer supervisors equating to a lesser tax rate. Mr. FitzRandolph said that he is quite pleased with the Budget and the process. He said that they have spoken about a Fund Balance that would be the lowest in history, but it turns out not to be the case. He said the Budget shows that management has been looking at how much is being spent. He said that the attitude of staff has changed and it is clear that they have looked for ways to reduce spending. He added that this Budget shows 44 less positions, and commended everyone that worked on the Budget. He said the Budget is fair and is as good as it can be. He will support the Budget. Mr. FitzRandolph echoed Mr. MacKinnon s and Mr. Burns comments, particularly regarding the County Administrator and the Department Heads, adding that there were a lot of people in every department adding to this effort. He thanked everyone for their understanding of what a difficult year this is, and their willingness to spend a lot of time and effort to save money without cutting services drastically. He believes this will be a very difficult Budget to live within. He said the next Board may have a really hard time living up to this Budget. He will vote for the Budget, and said he is sorry for those that will have to try live within this Budget. Chair Paquin said this is a good Budget adding that he appreciated Mr. FitzRandoph s input during the process. Ms. St. Hilaire also thanked Mr. FitzRandolph for his efforts throughout the process. Resolution No was adopted by a roll call vote with ten (10) yes votes, two (2) no votes (Forsythe and Turbett), and three (3) Legislators absent (Brothers, House, and Girard). Chair Paquin adjourned the meeting at 7:27 p.m., as there was no further business. 5