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Franklin County Legislature adopts 2017 budget, approves tax levy and dozens of contracts and appointments
Summary
At meetings on Dec. 1 and Dec. 15, 2016, the Franklin County Legislature adopted the amended 2017 budget and appropriation resolution, set a $16,343,323 tax levy, and approved multiple budget amendments, contracts, appointments and labor agreements including a new Teamsters pact and selection of Excellus as TPA.
The Franklin County Legislature met on Dec. 1 and Dec. 15, 2016 and adopted the county's 2017 budget and appropriation resolution, authorizing a total 2017 budget of $103,298,420 and a county tax levy of $16,343,323.
Clerk Gloria J. Valone reviewed roll calls and correspondence; the Dec. 1 session began at 11:37 a.m. and adjourned at 12:08 p.m., and the Dec. 15 session opened at 11:30 a.m. with all districts represented. Chairman D. Billy Jones presided at both meetings.
Why it matters: The adopted budget establishes Franklin County's spending and tax requirements for 2017 and includes line-item adjustments and appropriations (Resolution Nos. 329–331) that shift revenues and expenses across departments, fund county services and set the legal basis for spending during the year.
Major fiscal actions and context: The Legislature amended detailed revenue and appropriation lines in Resolution No. 329 and then adopted the appropriation resolution (Res. 330) and the amended tentative budget as the 2017 adopted budget (Res. 331). The approved totals include a $92.25 million General Fund and specified allocations to County Road, Road Machinery and capital project funds. The Legislature also adopted the Equalization Table for 2017 (Res. 332) and authorized tax warrants under Real Property Tax Law (Res. 338).
Notable budgetary and contract items: The board approved a $2,634,618 Inter-Governmental Transfer (IGT) payment for the county nursing home to be allocated across medical assistance, MMIS contractual and insurance/retirement/workers-compensation lines (Res. 318). The Legislature also authorized multiple contracts with local agencies and vendors for 2017 including Cooperative Extension ($290,000 contractual plus $60,000 lease), Adirondack Airport ($25,000), North Country Life Flight ($6,500), and a package of public-health and senior services contracts (Res. 339, Res. 343).
Labor and administration: The Legislature approved a new memorandum of agreement with Teamsters Local 687 for the Sheriff's Unit (Res. 360) and authorized the County's Personnel Officer to contract with Excellus Health Plan to administer Franklin County's self-funded health plan beginning March 1, 2017 (Res. 361). The county adopted salary schedules for county and Sheriff's units for 2017 (Res. 353, Res. 354).
Appointments, positions and operational decisions: The board confirmed appointments to the Franklin County Industrial Development Agency and other boards (Res. 320, Res. 325, Res. 342, Res. 345), reappointed an Alternate Conflict Defender (Res. 355), created three part‑time Community Service Aide positions for Social Services (Res. 359), and authorized a change order to complete additional work on County Route 18 (Forest Home Road) with an additional payment of $248,421.28 to the contractor (Res. 356).
Procedural and compliance matters: The Legislature authorized submission of a Corrective Action Plan responding to a State Comptroller audit of purchasing practices (Res. 350) and delegated to the Treasurer limited authority to issue tax anticipation notes when needed (Res. 352). The board also rescinded an earlier local resolution adjusting exempt-salary minimums after a federal court block of the Department of Labor rule (Res. 323).
Votes at a glance: Key roll-call outcomes included unanimous or near‑unanimous passage of the appropriation and budget adoption (Res. 330, Res. 331), passage of the Teamsters agreement (Res. 360) and approval for Excellus to administer the county plan (Res. 361). Where recorded, motions were seconded and approved by all members present; the Dec. 1 session had one excused member (Legislator Sherwin) while the Dec. 15 session recorded one abstention on acceptance of the Dec. 1 minutes (Sherwin) and otherwise full affirmative votes.
What’s next: The Legislature set its Organization Meeting for Jan. 5, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. and authorized the County Manager and relevant officials to execute approved contracts and implement adopted budget changes. Several contracts and grants are contingent on state funding or administrative steps outlined in the adopted resolutions.
Sources: Minutes and resolutions read into the record by Clerk Gloria J. Valone and motions recorded during the Dec. 1 and Dec. 15, 2016 regular meetings of the Franklin County Legislature.
