Spending Plan Keeps Fourth Consecutive Budget Under Tax Cap
submitted by Rich Crist, Majority Legislative Liaison, and Chris Meyer, Deputy County Executive
The Rensselaer County Legislature voted Monday to approve the 2015 County budget. The budget is based on a spending plan that allows the budget to remain under the state tax cap for the fourth consecutive year while protecting needed services.
[private]The budget also protects needed county services, and maintains a solid fiscal foundation that will help safeguard the County’s bond rating and positive financial ratings earned in recent years.
The spending plan approved at a special meeting on December 1 includes a minimal property tax increase of 1.48%. That increase was reduced from 1.66% thanks to various cost efficiencies, including an early retirement incentive package. The spending reductions total approximately $400,000.
“We are proud to see Rensselaer County stay under the tax cap for a fourth consecutive year. Our goal in the County Legislature was to keep the budget under the tax cap again, and we are glad that goal has been met,” said Chairman of the Legislature Martin Reid.
The budget is the latest to be passed under the growing burden of State and federal mandates. Mandates now account for 90 cents of every tax dollar in the County. The sluggish economy has also forced more residents to seek mandated services.
The budget for the legislative offices will remain in line with previous years, with the legislative budget remaining comparable to 20 years ago. Legislators have kept spending in line by keeping positions under previous staffing levels and postponing equipment purchases.
County Executive Kathleen M. Jimino and the majority members of the Legislature agreed to changes in the 2014 County budget that would achieve $393,383 in total savings of which $107,000 impacts the tax levy resulting in a reduction in the proposed tax levy increase from 1.66% to 1.48%.
The reduction in the tax levy increase was mainly achieved through savings generated by the retirement incentive negotiated as part of the union contract with the United Public Service Employee Union. Under the terms of the agreement employees could be paid $500 a year for each year of service up to a maximum of $10,000 if they retire by December 31, 2014, and the Department Head is able to determine that a similar or greater amount in cost savings can be achieved in 2015. Thirty-four employees have been approved for the retirement incentive program.
“Day in and day out my administration works to provide the vital services we deliver including those to pave, plow and patrol our streets as well as our senior and veterans programs as affordably for our taxpayers as possible. I want to thank the members of the County Legislature who voted in support of the budget for their efforts and contributions that I believe are a reflection of the year round efforts we collectively make to reduce the impact that the growing costs of State mandates have on our already overburdened taxpayers,” said Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen M. Jimino.
The budget was approved by a 12-6 vote.[/private]