Legislators anticipate challenges

As new Steuben County legislators officially take their seats Monday, two veteran legislators are looking for the chance to lead the board through what could be one of the most challenging economic times.

Legislators-elect Carol Ferratella, R-Corning Town, Michael Hanna, R-Hammondsport, Philip Palmesano, R-Corning, Gary Roush, R-Erwin, and Gary Swackhamer, R-Hornell, will take the oath of office during a 10 a.m. special legislative session.

In addition, Legislator Dan Farrand, R-Rathbone, will return for his second term, while Legislator Patrick Donnelly, R-Bath, will be sworn in for a third term.

Donnelly and Robert Nichols, R-Tuscarora, both hope to garner the 10-vote majority required to be-come the next chairman of the county Legislature. The post is a two-year term.

 The 17-member Legislature consists of five new members and five with just two years of experience. Together they will try to navigate the county through a year of uncertain state funding, potential new costs and reduced revenues, according to county Administrator Mark Alger.
“Honestly, I think this will be worse than what happened after 9/11,” he said, referring to the economic chaos that followed Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Both Donnelly, 57, and Nichols, 59, believe their experience in government and work chairing key legislative committees fit them to lead the county board.

Nichols will retire in 2012, and said chairing the county Legislature’s Public Works Committee for the past four years, and earlier work chairing the Legislature’s Health and Education Committee are factors in his favor.

The Public Works Committee oversees one of the county’s largest departments with annual operating budgets typically around $30 million.

Under Nichols, the Health and Education Committee spearheaded plans to build the new $19 million health care facility.

A dairy farmer, and agricultural advocate, Nichols has been on the Tuscarora Town Board for 20 years, 16 years as town supervisor.

“So I’ve been involved with government for a long time, from different angles,” Nichols said.

The current county Legislature vice chairman, Donnelly said he brings 32 years experience of financing and management as a bank manager and chairman of the board at State National Bank in Canisteo. He retired last year.

“While I was at the bank, I built a team to do things,” Donnelly said. “Now, I have the time and desire to do this job. Most importantly, the time.”

Since taking office in 2002, Donnelly has chaired the Legislature’s Administration Committee and, more recently, the Finance Committee.

The Administration Committee oversees overall operations at the county, with the Finance Committee responsible for the county’s fiscal dealings and the county budget, pegged at $183.5 million in 2010.

The potential financial crisis is uppermost in both men’s minds.

Donnelly said the state share of the national health care bill has been estimated between $1 billion and $3 billion.

“Now if the state decides to pass some of that onto us, that could be trouble,” he said. “And pension costs could go up 50 percent this year. We went from $2.5 million to $5 million this year. If it goes up again, that’s too much.”

One bright spot is the possibility the federal government will extend its Medicaid funding, providing the county with an extra $3 million next year, he said.

Nichols said the first concern for the Legislature is the loss of federal stimulus money in 2011. He remains concerned about the potential loss of $3 million in Medicaid funding next year.

While Nichols is proud of the work the Public Works Committee has done to cut overtime expenses and improve roads, he warned excessive state-mandated costs could reduce road work.

“I’m not going to sugarcoat it,” he said. “We may have to cut back to just maintenance.”

Both men said they welcome open debate between legislators next year.

“Debate is good,” Nichols said. “We need to work together for the benefit of the people.”

 “I’m here to get everybody on the same page,” Donnelly said. “We just have to find out what that page is.”