Referred to: The Ways and Means Committee (Chairman Gavaris and Legislators Cahill, Fabiano, Ronk, and Walter)

Legislator Joe Maloney offers the following:

WHEREAS, the primary functions of the Budget Department are overseen by the Chief Finance Officer of the county; and  

WHEREAS, the position is not necessary to operate the county and is therefore a misuse of taxpayer funds; and

WHEREAS, the position of Director of Budget and Innovation was a newly created position included in the 2022 Budget that specifically sought to give a certain employee in the Budget Office a raise, as discussed in the Ways and Means Committee meeting on November 23, 2021; and

WHEREAS, the employee has since been elevated in the Executive administration with a larger pay increase; and

WHEREAS, the origination and history of the positions is as follows:

2014: ACE Director $91K

2015: ACE Director $91K

2016: ACE Director $93K

2017: ACE Director $93K

2018: ACE Director $95K

2019: ACE Director $97K

2020: Director of Innovation $97K

2021: Defunded

2022: Director of Innovation & Budget $114K; and

WHEREAS, there were three additional full-time financial positions added to the 2022 budget to assist with the spending and tracking of the ARPA funds; and

WHEREAS, the current Budget already includes several financial positions that should be utilized to handle the daily financial tasks of county government; and

WHEREAS, the number of appointments in Ulster County government have grown since the inception of the charter, and the exodus from civil service tested positions cuts the community out from being able to apply and be considered in a more fair and transparent process; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the 2022 Ulster County Budget is hereby amended as follows:

                                                 DELETE                                      AMOUNT

1340-1950                        Director of Budget & Innovation              $114,192.00*

(PC #)                               *Annual Salary

DECREASE                              AMOUNT            

AA-1340-1095-1300-1300           Regular Pay                                ($114,192.00)

(App.#)

AA-1340-1095-8000-8000           Retirement                                  ($  10,335.00)

(App.#)

AA-1340-1095-8010-8010           Social Security                            ($    5,920.00)

(App.#)

AA-1340-1095-8020                   Health Insurance                         ($  25,861.00)

(App.#)

AA-1990-1331-4660                   Contingency                               $132,232.00

(App.#),

and moves its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:  

Passed Committee: Ways and Means on  ___________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

$132,232.00 – BUDGETARY SAVINGS