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Legislature Approves $89.9 Million Budget For 2000
County property taxes to fall for third year
by Brian O’Donnell
The Putnam County Legislature, on October 5th, approved the County’s Year 2000 budget, authorizing the spending of $89.9 million next year.
The spending plan will decrease County taxes to property owners by 2.3%. This will be the third year in a row that county property taxes have lowered. In addition, salaries for the Legislators will be linked to the County Executive’s salary at a lower rate than last year, decreasing the link from 28% to 26.5%. This will decrease the proposed increase of the Legislators salaries by $1,650. Currently, Legislators receive $27,876. Next year the pay rate will be $29,150. Once again, Legislator Sam Oliverio (Putnam Valley) voted against the raise and said that he will instruct the finance department to not increase his salary. In voting the salary change, the Legislators also resolved to send the question of salary linkage to the Charter Review Commission that will begin work next year.
The final adjustments to the proposed budget included several contentious items, the biggest of which is a plan by County Executive Bob Bondi to provide services and jobs to immigrant populations centered in the Village of Brewster. Legislator Chairman Tony Hay (Brewster), who stated his feeling that Bondi’s proposal would not work, presented a plan whereby $74,000 of the $535,000 earmarked for Bondi’s plan would be brought back into the general budget and distributed to the agencies that, according to Hay, already provide the same services.
At the Legislature’s Regular Monthly meeting, County Legislator Robert Pozzi (Mahopac) presented to Marjorie L. Nichols Keith, Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County, a proclamation establishing Cornell Cooperative Extension Week and National 4-H week in Putnam County, Oct. 3-9. After reading the proclamation, Pozzi summed up the Cooperative’s work in the County, "You do a heck of a lot!"
Chairman Hay said that Bondi’s plan could attract non-resident immigrants and that Village officials were opposed to the plan. He said that Village and Town (Southeast) officials have requested a meeting on the immigrant problems with Bondi to discuss their concerns but no meeting on this particular subject has yet taken place. Referring to the illegal alien segment of the immigrants, Hay said, "The very laws that have been violated to bring them into the county now protect them." He went on to say that the Brewster Village Budget is $1 million and the program as proposed by Bondi, which would be centered in Brewster, is $535,000. "You can’t tell me it’s not going to have an impact on this small little village." He said the residents and officials of Brewster felt that "they (the Bondi plan) will be dumping people on the main street of Brewster. When you open your arms and say ‘come on down’ believe me, anyone who can get a free ride will be there." Hay said that he has not gotten any indication that the programs being proposed were only for residents of the county. "If they have residency, we take care of them, if they’re not residents, I have a problem." Hay concluded his proposal to provide about $5,000, out of the $73,000, to the program, by saying that he would like to give the plan a chance. He would like to hear from the Coordinator of Community Affairs, the agency running the program, in early May of 2000, along with officials from the Town and Village, to report back to the Legislature, "to show us that what we are doing here tonight is working, and how it can work better." Based on that update, the Legislature can decide where the future of the program can go. He repeated that he did not think the program will work but he would, "love to be wrong."
After discussion by the Legislators, the Hay plan was rejected and the funds were placed in a sub-contingency line that makes the funds available only through action by the Legislature. Legislator Semo (Patterson), responding to criticism that the Legislators were trying to "bury the funds," said that the purpose of moving the money into the contingency line was to allow Bondi time to put forth a plan. At that point the Legislators could act to release the funds. Legislator Tamagna (Philipstown), referring to his own immigrant forefathers that were helped by the American system, "It’s very important for us to not forget that we are all Americans."
Executive Bondi addressed the Legislature to clarify some statements by Chairman Hay. He said that there has been some dialogue between the Village of Brewster, Town of Southeast, apparently on an individual basis. He said what needs to be explained is the "difference of opinions" that have not yet been aired.
The vote was 5-4 to move the funds to the sub-contingency account and not to place the funds back into the general budget.
Other major items included in this year’s budget include $300,000 for updating the assessment of real estate values in the county, contingent on approval of the individual towns. The budget will also create a Bureau of Emergency Services to provide coordination and oversight of county-wide disaster planning and the volunteer fire services.
Items that were approved at the regular monthly meeting of the Legislature, prior to the budget meeting, included the approval to float a bond to purchase the building next to the Mental Health Facility in the Town of Carmel - a former group home. The cost of the bond would be covered by the rent paid by Mental Health Services. In addition to the rent, the county will also receive a grant of $50,000, obtained by Senator Leibell.
The Legislators also approved the purchase of 6 buses for the county bus system originally planned for next year. Legislator Koberger (Kent) said that county planners had told him that the county could get the buses at the 1999 contract price if they were purchased this year. This saves the county $28,000.
Executive Bondi stated that he would examine the budget as approved by the Legislature and decide if he would allow it to stand or exercise his veto option.
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