LOCAL NEWS

A-8 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2011

Budget
Continued from Page A1
tys budget is consumed by
state mandates while only
11.3 percent is offset with
state aid next year. By far,
the
largest
mandate
imposed on the county is
Medicaid costs. More than
$11 million is budgeted next
year for Medicaid expenses,
a 6.1 percent increase over
this years budget. That
appropriation will drain
nearly 40 percent of the
countys 2012 tax levy.
Retirement
contributions consume the second
largest portion of the tax
levy with a 17.7 percent
increase in retirement costs
for the countys workforce.
The cost of law enforcement
employee retirement contributions will also increase,
by more than 20 percent.
Combined, more than $4.6
million will be appropriated
for retirement expenses next
year.
Faced with those staggering costs, the rate increases
alone exceed the countys
tax levy limit by nearly
$300,000. The 2011 adopted tax levy totaled $28.8
million. By maxing out the
countys tax levy to the cap,
the county could collect, at
most, $29.9 million next
year, an increase of about
$1 million.
Despite being unrestricted in formulating the budget
within the confines of the
property tax cap, Edick told
supervisors she recognizes
that our taxpayers cannot
withstand spikes in their
real property taxes. I also do
not wish to put you in a
position to either make lastminute cuts or make the
unpopular decision to override the tax cap at the county level.
The proposed tax levy
will not be increased to the
maximum potential that the
tax cap allows. Instead,
Edick is proposing a 1.9
percent increase in the overall tax levy, which will raise
about $576,544 more in revenue for a total tax levy in
2012 of $29.46 million. The
increase will equate to about
a 4 cent increase, or $7.51
per $1,000 of assessed value, in the countys property
tax rate, compared to last
year.
To balance the budget
with such challenging factors, 53 positions will be
eliminated next year, the
largest budgetary reduction
calculated into the budget.
Included in that figure are
positions that will be abolished as a result of the sale
of the countys certified
home health agency and
long term health care programs.
In line with that reduction, the board approved of
the abolishment of four
vacant positions at its meeting Monday a full-time
caseworker in the Department of Social Services and
three full-time motor equipment operators in the Highway Department, effective
immediately. The board also
unanimously voted to lay off
two licensed practical nurse
positions in the Public
Health Department, effective Dec. 2.
The county will save
more than $2.1 million in
salaries as a result of the
workforce reduction, plus
an additional $1.08 million
in benefits.
Significant cuts are also
proposed for requests for
software, capital projects,
vehicles and equipment.
The
2012
budget
includes a spending plan of
$102.6 million and the use
of $6.89 million from the
countys fund balance, a
$667,489 decrease compared to how much was
used this year.
Edick urged supervisors
to continuing fighting for
relief from state mandates.
Without mandate relief,
particularly
Medicaid
reform, it is doubtful that
Madison County will be
able to continue operating
within the confines of the
property tax cap without
significant cuts or even
total elimination of county
funding to non-profits and
considerable cuts in nonmandated programs and
services, such as the sheriffs road patrol and the
highway
department,
Edick said.

A public hearing on the

tentative 2012 county budget is scheduled for Nov. 29
at 9:50 a.m. and 7 p.m. in
the Supervisors Chambers
on the second floor of the
county office building in
Wampsville.
In other business, the
county approved an agreement with the Bonadio
Group, a New York-based
accounting firm, for information technology consulting services for $60,000 a
year.
The board also gave the
go-ahead to the countys
information
technology
department to begin a
change-over in the countys
internet domain in order to
allow the county to make
administrative changes that
it currently does not have
access to do.
The county received a
$7,800 CNY Community
Foundation grant to assist
the Health Department
with a project called Trails
of Madison County that
will aim at promoting local
businesses and an active life
style.
It also received a
$113,204 Drinking Water
Enhancement Grant from
the states Department of
Health and a $22,510 federal grant through the New
York State Governors Traffic Safety Committee to aid
law enforcement in targeting distracted driving and
slow-moving vehicles.
The board unanimously
approved a resolution that
urges reform in compulsory
integration practices in New
York. The resolution calls
for 80 percent of property
within a spacing unit to be
leased before a drilling permit be issued, as opposed to
60 percent, for public hearings to be held within the
municipality in which
drilling will occur instead of
in Albany and for landowners denying access to their
land be given 28 days
instead of 21 days to decide
how to proceed in the integration process. It also calls
for property owners that are
compulsory integrated to
receive an average of lease
royalties instead of the lowest amount.
The resolution will be
sent to Senator David
Valesky, Assemblyman Bill
Magee, Chairman of the
State Senate Committee on
Energy and Telecommunications George Maziarz,
Chairman of the Assembly
Committee on Energy and
Telecommunication Kevin
Cahill and the governor.
Supervisors also OKed
the Madison County Snowmobile Associations use
and maintenance of Swallows Bridge Road Bridge in
Oneida.
The county attorney was
given authorization to sue a
leasor of property for a tower site for the new emergency 911 system. Jordan
Ashcraft, who signed a lease
agreement to lease property
for a tower site, is refusing
to sign an easement with
New York State Electric and
Gas without being paid
more money. The lease he
agreed to requires him to
fully cooperate with any
utility company requesting
an easement over, under
and across the property in
order for the utility company to provide services to the
tenant.
Criminal Justice, Public
Safety and Telecommunications Committee Chairman
Darrin Ball said the issue
has held up the entire $23
million project.
We dont have a lot of
options, he said in reference to the lawsuit.
The second day of annual session is scheduled for
Nov. 29 at 9:30 a.m.

ONEIDA DAILY DISPATCH

Helping those in need

VERNON One girl is helping
to make a difference in countless
other peoples lives.
This year, Meg Szaraz collected
an estimated 430 pounds of the tabs
from aluminum cans to donat to The
Ronald McDonald House in Syracuse. This is the eightk year of Megs
pop-tab collection.
Over the past few year, 60, 210,
350, 400, 500, 900, 650 and 430
pounds of tabs were collected.
This years collection amount was
made possible by contributions of
tabs from The West Shore Hotel,
The Holy Family Church, and the
American Legion Post 404, all of
Vernon; the First Baptist Church,
Zeta the Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Pi, and the Tappet Twirlers Car
Club, all of Rome; Hardens Furniture of McConnellsville; the Vernon
Center Presbyterian Church; the
Seventh Day Baptist Church of
Verona; Junior Girl Scout Troop 507
of Oneida and the Oneida Baptist
Church; McAllister Elementary
School of Sherrill, Sherrill Post No.
230 and Sherrill Bums Club; and
Mount Markham Middle School in
West Winfield.
Others who contributed include
Joyce Mentell and the Cazenovia
Seniors Center of Morrisville; St.
Thomas Church of New Hartford;
The Pratt Family of Canastota; Central New York DSO, The ARC Oneida-Lewis Chapter, Oneida County
BOCES, Madison-Oneida BOCES,
Vernon Elementary, Vernon-Verona-

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ONEIDA The following are

department salaries in the City of
Oneida.
Administration/planning dept.
Mayor . . . . . . . . . . . .$27,000
Councilor (6) . . . . . . .$5,720
Deputy Mayor . . . . . . .+$500
Mayors Sec./Dep. Clerk$31,358
City Comptroller . . . .$64,616
Dep. City Comptroller $41,796
Comptroller/Chamberlain . . .
$15.61/hour
Acct. Clerk (pt) . . .$9.18/hour
City Chamberlain . . .$38,265
Assessor . . . . . . . . . . .$50,045
Assessor Aide . . .$13.74/hour
Assessment Clerk $10.11/hour
City Clerk . . . . . . . . .$45,422
City Attorney . . . . . . .$44,025
Litigation Attorney . . .$5,000
Exec. Dir. Civil Service$38,191
Tech. Sppt. Technician . . . . . .
$16.57/hour
Planning Director . . . .$67,102
Comm. Dvlpt. Asst.$18.12/hour

SUBMITTED PHOTO
Michael Szaraz, Megs father, helps Meg load 27 buckets of tabs for Ronald
McDonald House in Syracuse.
Sherrill High School; Eddy Elementary in Brewster, Mass., Boston College Football Fans; the Root Farm of
Verona; Deacon J. Chappell
Catholic Community Facility at
Mohawk Correctional Facility, Camden Rod & Gun Club, Oneida
YMCA, Car Club Association of
CNY, Revere Copper & Brass, as
well as many individuals who made
private contributions.
Fire department
Fire Chief . . . . . . . . . .$71,750
Deputy Fire Chief 1 . .$61,124
Deputy Fire Chief 2 . .$63,124
Deputy Fire Chief 3 . .$62,124
Deputy Fire Chief 4 . .$63,124
Lieutenant 1 . . . . . . .$59,827
Lieutenant 2 . . . . . . .$59,377
Firefighter 1 . . . . . . . .$58,377
Firefighter 2 . . . . . . . .$56,442
Firefighter 3 . . . . . . . .$55,155
Firefighter 4 . . . . . . . .$58,377
Firefighter 5 . . . . . . .$56,092
Firefighter 6 . . . . . . . .$43,342
Firefighter 7 . . . . . . . .$43,342
Firefighter 8 . . . . . . .$56,092
Firefighter 9 . . . . . . .$55,050
Firefighter 10 . . . . . . .$54,342
Firefighter 11 . . . . . . .$52,842
Firefighter 12 . . . . . . .$55,592
Firefighter 13 . . . . . . .$53,592
Firefighter 14 . . . . . . .$52,842
Firefighter 15 . . . . . . .$52,342
Firefighter 16 . . . . . . .$48,342
Account Clerk . . .$14.87/hour
Housing Inspector $11.22/hour

We carry a large selection of designer

frames at competitive prices!

Police department
Police Chief . . . . . . . .$84,114
Lieutenant . . . . . . . . .$71,200
Lieutenant . . . . . . . . .$70,200
Sergeant . . . . . . . . . . .$64,350
Sergeant . . . . . . . . . . .$64,600
Sergeant . . . . . . . . . . .$64,850
Sergeant . . . . . . . . . . .$65,670
Officer . . . . . . . . . . . .$59,713
Officer . . . . . . . . . . . .$54,800
Officer . . . . . . . . . . . .$58,963
Officer . . . . . . . . . . . .$53,709
Officer . . . . . . . . . . . .$58,363
Officer . . . . . . . . . . . .$57,613
Officer . . . . . . . . . . . .$56,363
Officer . . . . . . . . . . . .$51,444
Officer . . . . . . . . . . . .$58,686
Officer . . . . . . . . . . . .$56,963
Officer . . . . . . . . . . . .$56,426
Officer . . . . . . . . . . . .$56,139
Officer . . . . . . . . . . . .$55,259
Investigator . . . . . . . .$60,436
Investigator . . . . . . . .$62,350
Comm. Safety Officer $22,838
Record Clerk . . . . . . .$25,459
Senior Typist . . . . . . .$32,014
Telephone Operator . .$23,860

Ladies Night!

for the

Comprehensive
eye examination
Eye health care
Contact lens tting

A special thank you goes to Gene

Mason, of Vernon, who provided
them with the 5-gallon pails to gather all of the tabs in.
Meg has already started collecting for her ninth year. For more
information about contributing to
Megs Pop-Tab Fund for The Ronald
McDonald House, contact her parents, Michael and Lorraine Szaraz
of Vernon.

Dr. Brandi Coleman

Optometric Physician

Dr. Jerry L. Ba

Optometric Phy ker

si c i a n

EYECARE
C EN T E Ra
of Oneid

Thursday, November 17,

8pm - Midnight
Dr. Ro

n
O p t o m a l d H. P
et ric
Physi oulin
ci a n

581 S. Main St., Oneida

3153636690
3153636210
www.eyecarecentersofcny.com

27ee5r & well

domestic b the ladies

drinks for

Marble Road Sherrill

With
Mike &
Steve
363-9787