Legislators reject public safety percent reductions

PENN YAN--Legislator Elden Morrison introduced Resolution No. 239-17 to county lawmakers Monday, Aug. 14. The resolution was intended to direct the budget officer and the sheriff to make a 5 percent reduction for fiscal year 2017 and for their 2018 budget. Morrison said currently the Yates County public safety budget operates with 75 percent to 80 percent over the median expenses of other similar-sized public safety departments in the state. The resolution ended up only getting support from two legislators (Morrison and Terry Button) but the issue sparked a debate from both sides.
Morrison said the entire public safety budget is around $10 million dollars and with only a one percent reduction the county could save $100,000. Morrison said he is convinced that over-staffing in Yates is a factor and the cost of the jail is just too high.
Taylor Fitch responded saying the sheriff should be at a meeting to discuss his own budget. (Sheriff Ron Spike was not able to attend the meeting Monday, Aug. 14.)
Fitch said to Morrison, "Just bite the bullet and ask the Department of Corrections to come in and do a survey of our public safety operation, and then go from there."
Legislator James Smith thanked Morrison for bringing up the need for reductions in the public safety budget but said, "I'm opposed to this resolution though because we shouldn't need to pass a resolution to reduce spending. We can certainly have those conversations though in the budget process." Smith added, "I do think if we listen to Steve Griffin and others about our investments in the county, we could spend $100,000 on the outlet trail or for the arts and we would make our county more attractive to other development."
In other business:
Daniele Lyman, president and chief executive officer for The Arc of Yates, updated the legislature on the Yates Transit Service. Lyman said the service is operating at their budget expectations after only six months. Lyman said there was a shortage of riders for the Dundee route service, but after some outreach efforts the ridership has now increased and is close to what they expect per month. Lyman also outlined their new initiative with Keuka College. The Arc will have bus service from the college to Penn Yan Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Representatives from the Southern Tier Network provided an update to the legislature on broadband access within Yates County and spoke about the work that is being done within the county to expand services for underserved and non-served households. Steve Manning, chief executive officer for STN, outlined the governance program now in place to work with New York state and the connectivity grants that have been approved.
The legislature also approved the non-union 2017 salary schedule. The positions and salary amounts include:
Elected Officials: Annual Salary
County Clerk: $64,614
County Treasurer: $72,753
District Attorney: $185,200
Legislators (14 at $8,183 each): $114,562
Legislature Chairman: $8,183
Sheriff: $94,967
Full-Time/Part-Time: Annual Salary
Assistant District Attorney (DM): $37,324
Assistant District Attorney (LT): $68,021
Assistant Public Defender (KL): $60,000
Assistant Public Defender (KM): $60,000
Budget Officer: $9,518
Building Maintenance Supervisor: $58,249
Chief Corrections Officer: $63,000
Clerk, County Legislature: $54,163
Commissioner of Social Services: $66,570
Confidential Assistant to Sheriff: $42,162
Conflict Defender: $47,048
County Administrator: $100,000
County Attorney: $92,871
Deputy County Clerk: $37,925
Deputy County Treasurer: $46,125
Deputy Highway Superintendent: $63,090
Director of Children and Family Services: $58,804
Director of Community Services: $73,185
Director of Emergency Management: $65,461
Director of Income Maintenance & Child Support: $58,804
Director of Patient Services/Public Health: $70,908
Director of Real Property Tax Services: $68,769
Director of Veteran Services Agency: $47,988
Election Commissioner (D): $39,646
Election Commissioner (R): $39,646
Highway Superintendent: $81,349
Information Technology Director: $73,561
Personnel Assistant: $37,638
Personnel Officer: $66,625
Planner: $57,092
Probation Director: $63,003
Public Defender: $72,076
Secretary to District Attorney: $36,190
Social Services Attorney: $63,449
Supervising Public Health Nurse: $61,592
Undersheriff: $74,551.