Otsego trims budget by 6.4%

The Daily Star reported that with slow sales-tax collections, the Otsego County Board of Representatives cut the county's 2009 budget by about $712,000 at Wednesday's meeting.
The resolution came from the county's Administration Committee, which has been working to pare expenses to match the revenue expected this year.

Last fall when the budget was crafted, the county planned to collect $33 million in sales tax in 2009. Otsego is ``about 6 percent behind so far,'' said Rep. James Johnson, R-Otsego, Administration Committee chairman, on Thursday.

Weeks ago, the committee asked department heads to propose cuts within their own budgets to help offset declining revenues.

``We asked what they'd cut if they had to reduce their budgets by 5 percent and by 10 percent,'' Johnson said.

Then, for the most part, the committee _ comprising Reps. Richard Murphy, D-Oneonta, Betty Anne Schwerd, R-Burlington, and Johnson _ took the larger proposed cuts, combined them and came up with savings of more than $700,000.

Johnson said more cuts may be in the offing, as other department heads have proposed reductions since the last Administration Committee meeting.

County Board Chairman James Powers, R-Butternuts, said the county needs to cut about $1.1 million to avoid going over budget. The county has a budget of more than $111 million, but much of the money originates with the state and federal governments.

The county's revenue comes primarily from sales taxes and property taxes.
At least part of each item cut Wednesday is paid for with local funds, Powers said.
``One thing I should mention is this is not fat in the budget,'' he said. ``We've cut things we should be doing, but given the state of the economy, we have no choice.''
The resolution to cut expenses was approved by all representatives present Wednesday except for Scott Harrington, R-Oneonta.

``I voted `no' because I don't think the cuts went far enough,'' Harrington said after the vote.
Among cuts made was $167,164 from the county's road fund, including nearly $70,000 in salaries and benefits at the Highway Department, $50,000 for asphalt, stone, sand and oil, and
$40,000 earmarked for local bridge repairs.

The Department of Social Services's contract line saw a subtraction of $34,117. Public health nursing lost $58,356 in salaries and benefits, and the county jail's medical expenses budget was reduced by $13,000.

The board of representatives cut its information technology equipment-hardware budget by $8,475, as well as lodging meals and tolls by $600 and its telephone budget by $1,100.
Powers and Johnson noted that last spring, the board adopted a similar but less-sweeping resolution, opting not to fill all vacant funded positions.

On Thursday, Martin Donnelly, who chairs Delaware County's Finance Committee, said most counties in the state are in the same fix this year and are following a similar course.

``Our sales-tax collection is down, and we're watching every nickel we spend,'' he said.
Delaware County has a freeze on hiring, and equipment purchases are scrutinized closely, allowed only if absolutely necessary, he said.
``We're having a tough year," Johnson said, "but we have to remember the taxpayers are having a tough year, too."