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$9M of DSS funds to go uncollected
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| The sign at the entrance of the Columbia County Department of Social Services. Jamie Larson/Hudson-Catskill Newspapers |
By Francesca Olsen
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
Board of Supervisors Chairman Art Baer, R-Hillsdale, announced at October’s full board meeting Wednesday that the county expects to finish the year ahead of budget, even in the face of reduced mortgage and sales tax and $9 million in uncollectable accounts receivables at the Department of Social Services.
“Based on my best estimate...we will actually finish this year ahead of budget,” said the chairman. “We’ve been able to do this without laying any employees off, furloughing employees, or cutting any major services from the county.”
Baer said the county’s tax levy increase will most likely be no more than 5 percent for 2010, and that a firm figure would be reached soon. The county has so far lost $4.5 million in mortgage and sales tax revenue from its 2008 levels.
An external audit by the county’s accounting firm of federal and state reimbursement revenues at DSS determined that approximately $9 million in accounts receivables will be uncollectable; Baer said the impact of this determination will cause the county to write off the receivables and reduce its fund balance to match.
Apparently, the accounting practice that resulted in the uncollectable funds was in place for years; it was stopped in 2008 after an internal financial review and external audit.
“It’s an unfortunate situation,” Baer said. “We are not at all happy with it.”
The county plans to create and fill the position of county comptroller as a result of the discovery; a public hearing on the idea of a Columbia County comptroller will be held Nov. 10, before the next full board meeting.
The county is also requesting proposals from other accounting firms to conduct future independent audits and re-examine all of its capital projects. Baer said the county was at about 5 percent of its legal borrowing limit, “so we would have no problem bonding for projects as we see fit next year.”
Pension contributions from the county are projected to increase by 90 percent, and employee health care contributions are projected to increase by 12 percent in 2010. Baer said the county will continue to subscribe to a strategy of tight fiscal control. “We’ve got some work ahead of us,” he said. “I think we are weathering the storm as well or better than most other counties.”
Missing from the full board meeting agenda was a resolution formally accepting the Pine Haven subcommittee’s recommendation to build a new facility on the existing Philmont site. The resolution, Pine Haven committee chair Larry Andrews, R-Ghent, said, should be ready for the committee’s official acceptance next week.
Andrews said county public works commissioner David Robinson is currently compiling a “white paper” document outlining the research and exploration that resulted in the recommendation.
“It should be ready by next Tuesday night,” Andrews said. “We hope to have it ready for the Pine Haven (committee) meeting.”
Al Wassenhove, a county resident who has been collecting signatures on a petition to keep Pine Haven in Philmont since the county originally proposed moving it, was at the full board meeting. He had heard the item wasn’t on the agenda and came to the meeting to find out why.
Wassenhove didn’t have much to say on the situation. “Not until I know what’s in that white paper document,” he said.
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com.
“Based on my best estimate...we will actually finish this year ahead of budget,” said the chairman. “We’ve been able to do this without laying any employees off, furloughing employees, or cutting any major services from the county.”
Baer said the county’s tax levy increase will most likely be no more than 5 percent for 2010, and that a firm figure would be reached soon. The county has so far lost $4.5 million in mortgage and sales tax revenue from its 2008 levels.
An external audit by the county’s accounting firm of federal and state reimbursement revenues at DSS determined that approximately $9 million in accounts receivables will be uncollectable; Baer said the impact of this determination will cause the county to write off the receivables and reduce its fund balance to match.
Apparently, the accounting practice that resulted in the uncollectable funds was in place for years; it was stopped in 2008 after an internal financial review and external audit.
“It’s an unfortunate situation,” Baer said. “We are not at all happy with it.”
The county plans to create and fill the position of county comptroller as a result of the discovery; a public hearing on the idea of a Columbia County comptroller will be held Nov. 10, before the next full board meeting.
The county is also requesting proposals from other accounting firms to conduct future independent audits and re-examine all of its capital projects. Baer said the county was at about 5 percent of its legal borrowing limit, “so we would have no problem bonding for projects as we see fit next year.”
Pension contributions from the county are projected to increase by 90 percent, and employee health care contributions are projected to increase by 12 percent in 2010. Baer said the county will continue to subscribe to a strategy of tight fiscal control. “We’ve got some work ahead of us,” he said. “I think we are weathering the storm as well or better than most other counties.”
Missing from the full board meeting agenda was a resolution formally accepting the Pine Haven subcommittee’s recommendation to build a new facility on the existing Philmont site. The resolution, Pine Haven committee chair Larry Andrews, R-Ghent, said, should be ready for the committee’s official acceptance next week.
Andrews said county public works commissioner David Robinson is currently compiling a “white paper” document outlining the research and exploration that resulted in the recommendation.
“It should be ready by next Tuesday night,” Andrews said. “We hope to have it ready for the Pine Haven (committee) meeting.”
Al Wassenhove, a county resident who has been collecting signatures on a petition to keep Pine Haven in Philmont since the county originally proposed moving it, was at the full board meeting. He had heard the item wasn’t on the agenda and came to the meeting to find out why.
Wassenhove didn’t have much to say on the situation. “Not until I know what’s in that white paper document,” he said.
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com.
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stonepound wrote on Oct 17, 2009 1:16 AM:
We need Change in Columbia County. Flip The County vote Blue! "