Tioga County issued the following announcement on Dec 16.
Below is a summary of the 2021 budget, and current budget challenges faced by Tioga County. The full Adopted Budget can be viewed HERE.
December 15th, 2020
Honorable Members of the Tioga County Legislature and Residents of Tioga County
I present to you the Final Adopted Budget for 2021
COVID19 PANDEMIC
In the wake of the COVID19 pandemic, several budgetary challenges became apparent to Tioga County including major revenue losses in Sales Tax, Occupancy Tax, Gaming Revenues, and the looming threat of State Aid cuts. In response, Tioga County implemented a COVID19 Financial Response Plan which executed a 10% reduction of all non-salary or mandated service expenditures from the 2020 Budget, Training and Travel Restrictions, a review of Capital Expenditures, and a temporary hiring freeze. Furthermore the 2021 Budget has taken the potential losses of revenue into account, and implemented another 10% reduction to all non-salary or mandated service expenditures. These efforts were crucial to ensure a balanced budget for 2021, nevertheless the impact of COVID19 will be felt for many years to come.
BUDGET CHALLENGES
2021’s Budget Process was met with familiar challenges including the unfunded and underfunded mandated services which continue to further shift costs to all New York Counties. In 2020 a directive came to light from Albany that suggested municipalities may see a 20% cut from State Aid in reaction to COVID19, many of the requests for State Aid are directly associated with Mandated Services. Additionally, Sales Tax, which is one of the largest revenue sources for the County not only saw a reduction in 2020 due to COVID19, but Sales Tax received by the County also continues to be reduced by AIM funding that was previously paid to municipalities by the State. Beginning in 2021 Sales Tax will also be impacted by another State mandate requiring at least $150,000 to be withheld for Distressed Hospitals and Nursing Homes. This order will continue into 2022.
CURRENT PROGRAMS
County Department heads and employees continue to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, diligently looking for cost saving measures, and advocating for additional revenue sources and economic growth. The 2021 Budget maintains all current County programs and services provided to its citizens with the exception of curbside recycling.
RECYCLING
Starting in 2021, due to an unanticipated increase of the cost of curbside recycling, Tioga County will no longer provide curbside recycling. The County will continue to provide the following Recycling services: Recycling drop off sites, Hazardous Waste and E-Waste disposal, as well as community outreach. Services are to be absorbed into the General Operating Fund. If any citizen has questions regarding the changes to the Recycling service, please contact Ellen Pratt, Sustainability Manager for Tioga County.
BUDGET TOTALS
The total tentative budgeted appropriations for 2021 are $82,900,667.45. In 2020 the total budgeted appropriations were $86,200,968.98; this is a decrease of ($3,300,301.53) or -3.83%. Total tentative anticipated revenues for 2021 are $52,597,338.81. In 2020 the total anticipated revenues were $58,599,043.63; this is a decrease of ($5,961,704.82) or -10.18%.
EXPENDITURES
The decrease in expenditures of $3.3 million dollars is brought on by a combination of salary reductions through attrition, across the board departmental cuts in anticipation of continued State Aid and revenue losses, large reductions in capital expenditures for 2021, and the ending of the curbside recycling program.
REVENUES
The decrease in anticipated revenues of nearly $5.9 million dollars is due to a combination of Sales Tax losses (estimated at 10%), Interest & Fee reductions, Gaming revenue reductions, and an anticipated State Aid loss of 20% (estimated at $2,000,000.00)
PROPOSED TAX LEVY
The total Tax Levy for 2021 shall be $24,948,721.00. Compared to the 2020 Total Tax Levy of $24,654,109.00 this is an increase $294,612.00, or 1.19%.
TAX CAP
2021 will mark the 10th consecutive budget year that Tioga County has stayed under the State imposed property tax cap. The 10 year average increase in the Tax Levy has been approximately 1.69% each year.
COMPOSITE TAX RATE
The Combined Composite Tax Rate is $8.61 per $1,000.00 of taxable value. Based on the average assessment of $125,000, homeowners will pay approximately $1,076.25 in County Tax. Tax rates will vary from town to town due to the State established equalization rates and town’s apportionment percent. The Combined Composite Tax Rate includes Veterans and Clergy exemptions which may also further impact those rates.
DEFICIT GAP – RECOMMENDATIONS
The total budget deficit gap is estimated at $30,303,328.64, after applying the 2021 Tax Levy of $24,948,721.00, I propose using $5,354,607.64 in both Unrestricted Fund Balance and Fund Balance Reserves to balance the 2021 Budget.
RECOGNITIONS
In preparation of the 2021 Budget I would like to thank all Department Heads and County Employees for their participation in the Budget Process. I would like to specially thank the following Tioga County employees for their time and efforts; Terie Huseby, Real Property Director, Bethany O’Rourke, Personnel Officer; Amy Poff, Benefits Manager; Katie Chandler, Deputy Treasurer; Stephanie Jerzak, Chief Accountant; James McFadden, County Treasurer; and Drew Griffin, Deputy IT Director. I would like to also thank the Tioga County Legislature for their continued strength and leadership in these uncertain times, and especially Cathy Haskell, Legislative Clerk and Legislative Chair Martha Sauerbrey for their unrelenting support and assistance throughout the 2021 Budget Process.
Original source can be found here.
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