Plan to cut bridge aid stuns officials

A proposal to trim the 2010 Steuben County budget by $100,000 has resulted in strong protests by officials in the cities of Corning and Hornell.

The idea to cut $100,000 used by the cities for bridge maintenance and repair was proposed by Legislator Fran Gehl, D-Corning City, and immediately supported by Legislator Don Creath, R-Corning City.

The proposal was made during the first day of the Legislature’s Finance Committee 2010 budget workshop. The committee expects to trim $1.8 million in spending next year in order to keep average property tax increases around 3 percent.

Gehl is not a member of the Finance Committee but attended Monday’s meeting and suggested the funding cut to colleagues.

He said the county previously cut the bridge funds during difficult financial times and restored them when county finances became more stable.

As a member of the committee, Creath made the motion to cut the funds, and was seconded by Legislator Larry Crossett, R-Bath. It then was approved by the committee 5-0.

Word of the funding cut infuriated City of Hornell Mayor Shawn Hogan and Corning City Manager Mark Ryckman.

The committee’s action eliminates $60,000 to Hornell and $40,000 to Corning.

Ryckman said neither Gehl or Creath consulted with him that they would suggest county funding for the city be eliminated.

This is a particularly bad time for Corning to lose $40,000 in county funds since it faces nearly a $130,000 loss in state funds and higher pension and health insurance costs. Also, the city could incur costs associated with a $4 million plan to renovate the old Centerway Bridge that is supposed to be paid by state and federal funds.

Not receiving the county funding will cause the city to forego future bridge repair, Ryckman said.

“It’s work that won’t get done at a time when we’re trying to improve our infrastructure,” Ryckman said.

Hogan said the cities don’t receive any public works assistance from the county, outside of the bridge repair funds. Other municipalities receive some help from Steuben, since county roads run through most towns and villages, Hogan said. The county also repairs major bridges in the towns and villages.

Hogan said the city has 14 bridges and is currently working on repairs to four major bridges in the city.

“All I’m asking for is a lousy $60,000. I’m all for fairness and spending money wisely,” Hogan said. “But this harms every county resident in the city, in both cities.”

While the cut represents roughly one-third of 1 percent in county taxes, the $60,000 amounts to a 2.5 percent tax increase for Hornell city residents, Hogan said.

Hornell’s legislators did not attend the budget workshop Monday, but later questioned the cut.

Legislator Richard Argentieri, D-Hornell, said there were other ways to trim the 2010 budget, starting with management salaries.
 
“Infrastructure improvements benefit the county residents far more than other costs, such as high salaries,” Argentieri said. “I think we should find some other places to cut first.”
 
Freshman Legislator Randy Weaver, D-Hornell City, said his immediate reaction to the cut was that it was unfair to county residents living in the cities.
 
“I mean, the residents in Hornell do pay county taxes,” Weaver said. “Seems to me they should get something for it.”
 
Committee members also made significant cuts Monday in other areas, including highway equipment, landfill equipment and tourism.

Legislators expect to raise jail revenues by increasing the charge for housing inmates from other counties to $75 per day and taking in additional federal inmates. The increase in jail revenues would offset an expected loss at the jail of $1 million due to cuts this year in state funding.
 
County Administrator Mark Alger said changes made by the committee Monday totaled about a $1.4 million reduction in spending, leaving at least $500,000 left to be pared when the committee meets today.
 
The current county budget of $179.5 million carries an average property tax increase of 2.8 percent.