BELMONT - Allegany county legislators approved a modified 2010 budget Monday, with $350,000 more in spending on bridge work over the proposed budget.

Ten of 14 legislators voted for the budget which will increase taxes next year by about 1.7 percent.

Total appropriations had previously been drafted at about $110,792,718; that is an increase of about $5,401,287, or 5.1 percent, from 2009 spending.

The drafted $110 million budget already included an $800,000 increase in appropriations for the Department of Public Works over the previous year, according to county administrator John Margeson.

The legislators approved the $350,000 increase 13-1; Karl D. Kruger, R-Friendship opposed. Legislator Daniel Russo, R-Wellsville was absent.

"The original request was for three town bridges," Mr. Margeson said. "As budget officer, I removed the funding for two of those."

Monday's amendment, he said, puts funding back into the budget for either the repair or replacement of a bridge or bridges, Mr. Margeson said. He said $150,000 of the increased appropriation came from the contingency fund. The other $200,000 came from the appropriated fund balance.

"When we came into office Jan. 1, 2006, we promised the taxpayers we would do the best we could to decrease the size of government," Mr. Kruger said. "We've done nothing but increase the size of government."

Norman G. Ungermann, R-Cuba, said "Spending is going to increase by some $5 million over last year, yet we have fewer people working to pay the taxes. We've never looked at any way to cut spending, yet (Timothy J. O'Grady, R-Wellsville) came with a whole list of things that maybe could be cut.

"We seem to find money to buy houses on Court Street, but we can't fix town bridges that are closed, such as the Haskins Road bridge in the town of New Hudson. We now have 97 real estate tax exemptions, leaving fewer and fewer people to pay the bills, yet we have not reviewed any of them for possible elimination," Mr. Ungermann said.

Mr. Ungermann noted how the Farm Bureau had sent the legislators resolutions printed on both sides of the sheets of paper. New York State had done the same this year, he said; Allegany county had not conserved even in such simple things, he said.

Mr. Ungermann read his comments from what he showed to apparently be re-used scrap paper; his remarks were printed on one side, with old documentation crossed out on the back.

"We're bringing in more money through assessments, we're using surplus money we have, and we're still increasing taxes," Mr. O'Grady said. "The only way we're going to be able to reduce our tax base is to stop offering those services."

Mr. O'Grady said Allegany county needs to streamline its services and appropriations more. Legislators O'Grady, Ungermann, Kruger and Michael J. McCormick, D-Andover, opposed the passed budget.

Legislators did approve several measures to reduce spending, however. In one motion, they approved an amendment to the county's health plan.

Effective Jan. 1, 2010, all new employees will no longer receive any health care benefits after their retirement. Employees hired before Jan. 1 will receive such benefits, as will lateral transfers.

Legislators also discussed a motion to extend an agreement providing dental care to inmates at the Allegany County Jail.

"It's pretty sad when people in our county jail get better health treatment than people working for a living," Mr. O'Grady said.

Mr. Kruger noted their earlier motion to relieve new employees of retirement coverage. "But we're gonna' take care of the little angels that rob, rape and steal? You can if you want to," he said.

David T. Pullen, R-Fillmore, asked what would happen if they did not approve the coverage. "My concern is not because they would have specific legislation, but that they would close down our county jail," he said.

A memorandum from Sheriff William Tompkins, however, said the agreement would allow a dentist to treat inmates at the jailhouse. "This will cost us less per inmate for dental services, and it also will provide a more secure situation," he wrote.

Legislators approved the resolution 11-3; legislators Ungermann; Kruger and Ronald B. Truax, R-Cuba opposed it.

(Contact reporter John Loyd at jloyd@oleantimesherald.com)

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Tax wrote on Nov 24, 2009 11:10 PM:

" What a pathetic society we live in. Decrease the working person insurance, then approve dental for inmates. Welcome to NYS, give me your money!! "

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