Chairman’s Column

July 2010

Jim Hoffman

The Wayne County Board of Supervisors has decreased the county tax rate for the past five years. The county tax rate in 2010 is $7.82 per thousand, down approximately 18% from the 2005 county tax rate of $9.54 per thousand.

Preparation of the 2011 county budget is about to commence. It is the Board’s intention to continue the favorable trend cited above. However, affecting the 2011 county budget is the state legislature’s shifting the cost of state programs to the county.

Most recently budget “extenders” approved in Albany have shifted some of the cost of mandated services provided by the Department of Social Services from the State to Wayne County taxpayers. For example, there is a $34.4 million statewide cost shift, retroactive to 10/1/09 that will cost Wayne County taxpayers about $100,000 more for Child Welfare services (Child Protective, Adoption and Foster Care, Preventing Out of Home Placements) in the present budget year and an additional $100,000 in 2011. This is the result of the State cutting back its reimbursement rate (from 63.7% to 62.0%) for programs that the State mandates Wayne County to provide.

Further, funding used to support a variety of Department of Social Services job programs has been reduced by $22,166.   Wayne County is required to spend a minimum of $856,577 in Child Welfare Services just to be able to receive the reduced level of funding.

Transportation funding has also been cut, which severely limits our ability to get people trained or to jobs. Overall, this funding has been cut Statewide by over 80%. This is projected to cost County taxpayers up to an additional $80,000 in next year’s budget.

These are just a few examples of how New York state budget decisions affect Wayne County taxpayers and ultimately impact your property tax rates.

The next County Board meeting is on Tuesday, July 20^th at 9:00 a.m. at the Court House, located at 26 Church Street in Lyons.

The August County Board of Supervisors meeting will be on Monday, August 9^th at 9:00 a.m. at the Wayne County Fair Grounds in the Village of Palmyra.  This is also opening day of the 155^th Wayne County Fair.  To my knowledge this is the first time a Board of Supervisors meeting has been held outside of Lyons, the county seat. It is hoped that many of you find it convenient to attend the meeting and get to see your county government at work.

Opening ceremonies for the 2010 Wayne County Fair are on Monday, August 9^th at 1:00 p.m. in front of Floral Hall.   The theme this year is “Bring a Friend In 2010 to The Wayne County Fair”. 

You can find information about the 2010 Wayne County Fair schedule by visiting the Wayne County Fair website at   www.waynecountyfair.org. I hope to see you there!