The 2019 NYSAC Conference got underway today with significant representation from Chemung County. The goal of the conference seems to be twofold: the education of community leaders along with advocacy by NYSAC on issues with particular consequences to local government.
The conference allows participants to choose among a number of training sessions. The newbies - including me - seemed to gravitate toward skills-based courses in order to learn more about the nuts-and-bolts of how county government functions.
Meet the Mandates
The first session I attended dealt with state mandates, or the directives New York State imposes on local governments.
According to the presentation, county governments in New York were required to pay more than 5 billion dollars in 2017 to support state mandated programs and initiatives. The graph below sets forth the nine most expensive outlays for mandates;
The presenters cautioned county lawmakers that at least three new laws when (or if) enacted could add significant additional mandated costs. These laws include new election rules that allow for early voting, requiring local oversight by the Board of Elections along with legalized marijuana that, if passed, could include a good deal of requirement for local regulatory services.
Moreover, if Gov. Cuomo’s cut to the Aid and Incentives to Municipalities Funding (AIM) is passed, towns and villages in New York will have less revenue, forcing them to look to other sources of revenue - such as counties - for relief. Even though this is not a mandate, it could have the same net effect, i.e. forcing counties to spend money in order to keep local government running.
At the same time, the presenters suggested several changes to New York’s criminal justice system could result in cost savings to local government if they cause the incarceration rate to go down. These measures include Raise the Age legislation that increases the age of liability for most crimes to 18 years old, Bail Reform that strengthens alternatives to jail for people who can’t make bail for lesser criminal offenses, and legalization of marijuana that, if passed, would likely reduce the jail population, especially in urban areas.
Regardless of this speculation, it is clear county leaders and residents in New York need to pay close attention to the impact state bills have on local communities.
Understanding Municipal Credit Scores
The second session I attended was really great for people new to local government. It dealt with the specific ways Moody’s goes about assessing municipal fiscal health, and described how counties stack up against each other.
This table shows the ratings used by Moody’s;
Chemung County currently has a Moody’s credit rating of A1 (shown here), placing it toward the median for all counties in New York. I don’t have a copy of the comparative graph shown during the presentation, but will do my best to get one.
My contrast, the City of Elmira’s rating was Ba3 as of last February (shown here), underscoring the need to find ways to improve Elmira’s fiscal health.
Me
On a complete side note, it looks like I unfortunately need to cut my time at this conference short. A sick kid and sick husband at home coupled with what is now a sick me means I cannot be as productive here as I had hoped - not to mention the dubious ethics of spreading my germs to the majority of New York county leaders during tomorrow’s sessions.
I am really bummed as I found this conference extremely educational and interesting, but I have no doubt the other local participants will bring their new knowledge back to share with the rest of us.
-Christina Sonsire
Has this string been shutdown? I noticed 24 on the counter but only 19 in the string.
Loading...I hope you can see this reply. I have not done anything to affect the discussion, and WordPress has not been able to help. This happened once before, ie comments stopped publishing. It may be a plug-in problem. I have a call into the web developer who helped me create the page but have not been able to connect with him today. Please let me know if you could read this.
Loading...Thanks Christina, saw your blog/forum status post.
Loading...To Citizen for Transparency:
I’m confused by the point of your statement. Do you believe that public officials, particularly newly electeds and appointeds, should be restricted from educational opportunities?
Loading...sorry to belabor the point but I count nine legislators in the photo above. Also there are only 14 people in the photo so I don’t know if the other two attendees are legislators or not.
Loading...Sorry to belabor the point but I count nine members of the legislature in the photo above. There are also only 14 people in the photo so I don’t know if the two missing people are legislators or not.
Loading...The invoice I have is for nine people, so I am assuming it includes the clerk who was there as well. No legislators who were at the conference are missing from the photo.
Loading...To Citizen for Transparency:
I’m confused by the point of your statement. Do you believe that public officials, particularly newly electeds and appointeds, should be restricted from educational opportunities?
Loading...Mr. Patros- You proclaimed sending 16 people to Albany a good deal at a cost of $3,500. Well she missed the cost by a factor of five. One has to ask if the value received is overestimated by a factor of five. If so are the taxpayers truly being served. Don’t forget $15,000 of taxpayer money here, $15,000 of taxpayer money there, pretty soon you are talking about real money.
Loading...I looked back at the email I received from the clerk of the legislator on January 22 with a travel invoice of around $3500 (it was actually $3.807.02) and see it only pertains to the eight members of the legislature plus the clerk. The figures you site may be correct. It was not my intention to include incorrect information – rather a case of me not looking at the invoice closely enough to recognize the costs for other attendees and other hidden conference costs was not included.
I agree $12,000 or so is high, but still think the value needs to be balanced against the gains. As I mentioned in an earlier comment, these types of events present many opportunities for long term savings – and I believe this conference will have just that effect here.
Anyone who follows me knows I am concerned about wasteful spending, especially when it comes to the legislature, along with equity among county employees. I spoke publicly against legislative pay increases last year and plan to donate the amount over what I feel is appropriate to community projects, and I declined to take a $1,500 buyout for health insurance. I also spoke up against salary cuts that I didn’t feel were fair.
However, learning from others has real value. Perhaps in the future the legislature should vote on a certain level of appropriation for events like this to force more thoughtfulness ahead of time.
Loading...To Citizen for Transparency:
So you took my using of the word “priceless” as strictly just related to cost???
Loading...I just got on the NYASAC website. They still have a registration for the conference out there. The cost for 16 people is as follows:
Conference Registration @ $514 per person $ 4,512.00
Lodging @$141 per night per person assuming two nights $ 8,224.00
Mileage at IRS rate (Assuming only 8 drivers) $ 1,856.00
Total estimated cost $14,592.00
My $12,000 number was a little. But then again so was your $3,500.00.
See Andy Patros you can put a price on it.
Loading...Christina-You may want to take a closer look at the total cost of sending 16 people to NYSAC. I have it on good authority that the cost is closer to $12,000 when travel and hotels are added.
Loading...Education is always worth the investment. I also know the county has been tight with approving travel for rank-and-file employees to avoid the perception of using tax payer dollars to spend a few nights away from the family in a hotel. Overnight travel was restricted unless the session was mandatory for the job. Employees were required to carpool and/or rent a vehicle. Family members were told to stay home due to liability concerns for reimbursed mileage. “Taxpayer savings” was, for the most part, miniscule.. My point in the earlier post was to be cognizant of the disparity between the Hazlett Building inner circle and the employees that keep the lights on. Perception. Thank you for not being afraid to stand up for what is right, rather than fall in line with others. I appreciate the attempt of removing the oxymoron of “moral and ethical government” one step at a time.
Loading...It is very important for County Legislators to Network. This is the way to make to make valuable contacts, especially to help them in providing Constituent services.
Loading...Yes I am. However, that comment was not directed at you. I watched your recording of the personnel committee meeting and know you were looking for more information on proposed salaries which is the prudent approach.
Loading...Paying $3,500 for 16 people to attend a conference in Albany is priceless but paying qualified people a competitive wage to get the best and the brightest is wasteful. I just love the way you people think.
Loading...Are you referencing wages paid to Chemung County employees? I just want to be sure I understand before I respond.
Loading...Simple, knowledge is power. The old adage have to spend money to make/save money. Good to rub elbows with others to see how they “run their
Loading...shop”. Money well spent in my opinion.
A completely legitimate expense and smart investment in our local governmental public servants. And indeed, as Christian states, walking away with usable knowledge for our community… priceless. $3,500 is minor, and will pay some positive dividends.
Loading...I agree that representatives, particularly the county executive and new legislators, will find this conference useful. I also agree that is not necessary for the entire Hazlett Building to make the Albany trip. Perhaps more appropriate attendees would include program staff that may have subject matter knowledge to more adequately provide feedback based on the agenda points (such as fiscal leadership). It is my hope the new administration is careful to insure that travel costs are scrutinized and that carpooling or bus transportation is made available to prevent excess travel/mileage expenses. Training and networking are very important as long as it remains business related and for the purpose of better government. Keep the focus on the task at hand. Perception is reality.
Loading...Perhaps, but at Ziff Law we always consider expenses like this good investments in the future.
The total cost was around $3,500. If just one person listened to a presentation, made a connection to a person, or read something that results in an idea that saves Chemung County more than $3,500, it’s a win.
I was in a workshop about Economic Development and listened with great interest as Justin Woods, the Cayuga County Administrator and a former Town planner in Big Flats, talked about a community solar project his community is about to launch. It is expected to yield significant economic returns, and is something I definitely plan to explore for Chemung County. If I had not been there and heard Justin speak, I may not have realized the valuable potential in a project like this.
Loading...I am not arguing the value of the conference I am questioning the need for a legislative quorum along with the clerk and what appears to be the entire administrative inner-circle.
Loading...How much does it cost the taxpayers to send nine legislators, the clerk of the legislature, the county executive, deputy executive and records and information director to Albany for three days? Was it really necessary to send such a large group?
Loading...I addressed this issue in a separate blog post from yesterday entitled “2019 NYSAC Conference.” According to an email I received, the total cost to send 16 people is right around $3,500. This is a useful outlay of funds in my opinion, as we are exposed to many different cost-saving measures at the conference along with the opportunity to make connections with other lawmakers across the state who can share best practices.
Loading...The loss of Aid to Municipalities (AIM) as I believe will only affect upstate municipalities. Consequently a raise in our Town, Villages, & City may happen. I believe AIM has forty-nine million dollars allocated, the same cost to give illegal immigrants a free college education. Robbing from Peter to pay Paul.
Loading...Thanks for the info. I know state mandates are an astrinomical burden to local government. Seems current state leadership is not sympathetic to local government. Feel better soon!
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