Surely we can count on Ulster County administrators and legislators to cut the tentative 2006 property tax hike of 49 percent. It's an election year, for heaven's sake.
So, it's up to us to help them out. You know, half a million here, half a million there, and pretty soon you can chop that property tax hike down to a mere 44 percent or 45 percent. Remember, every $467,000 cut from the county's bottom line means a 1 percent drop in the projected property tax levy. Appropriations total close to $300 million.
- Forget bonding for $569,500 to buy 31 new cars, SUVs and vans. This would save about 1.2 percent. It's not like the wheels will fall off the county, since it has about 400 vehicles. The tentative budget is salted with auto leases and auto repair expenses. This is on top of the $421,653 reserved for the county's central auto division. The repair unit has $250,000 socked away for auto parts and supplies and another $50,000 for auto repairs. That should cover most of the work.
- Elect legislators willing to take a pay and benefits cut. The 33-member Legislature costs about $350,000. The "flex" benefits supplement plan they and management get amounts to $115,000. Think volunteers. Call this another 1 percent.
- Seek less outside professional help. Apparently, 1,600 employees are not enough, or they are not the right people, because the county spends millions of dollars in "fees for professional service." The long-term home health-care unit budgeted $978,056; probation, $275,733; and information services, $277,930 for outside help. The Social Services Department asked for $315,000 in one spot, $237,000 in another, $225,772 in a third spot, then $404,305 and $535,484 in a couple of other spots. The county attorney wants $41,000 worth of outside professional help. These little jobs add up to nearly $3.3 million. If the county can save only a third of that, taxpayers get a break of more than 2 percent.
- Cut a department. Cut the county libraries' request for $373,273; a number of them have their own tax districts. Or whack the Office for the Aging with its budget of $2.64 million. Is the Environmental Management Council worth $496,424? Figure another 2 percent from somewhere.
The county Legislature's Ways and Means Committee started its review of the budget yesterday. The full Legislature is not likely to adopt a budget until November. There is still time to help out with suggestions.
Ask legislators and managers to take a pay and benefits cut – $465,000.
Seek less outside, professional help – $3.3 million.
Cut a department – County libraries at $373,273; Environmental Management Council, $496,424; Office for the Aging, $2.64 million.
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