Popular Searches
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Share
Committee discusses capital projects
One City Centre, Ockawamick among topics covered
By Francesca Olsen
A meeting of the county Space Utilization Subcommittee Thursday morning gave a summary of the county’s planned capital projects, generated questions about recent dealings, and then went into executive session.
The meeting began with a layout of the county’s current and impending projects, a brief discussion of the letter the county received from Pyramid Brokerage Firm regarding the purchase of One City Centre, and an overview of the economic impact over the next two years due to an ongoing recession and a significant decrease in the county’s general fund.
Attached to the meeting agenda was a copy of the letter from Pyramid. The letter states that the county’s current bid of $2.6 million on One City Centre is “significantly below the highest offer presented in writing ... the bank has no alternative other than to continue the process with the highest bidder.”
The county bid $2.3 million for the property in July, then upped the bid on Aug. 11 to $2.5 million, then upped it again on Aug. 13 to $2.6 million, the letter said. It also states that in a late September conversation with Bob Ganson, another broker at Pyramid involved in the sale of One City Centre, Baer said the county was “anxious to move the process forward.” Then, in early October, Baer called Ganson, “explaining the need for more time before the process could move forward.”
Baer said the change of heart came from forming the county’s budget. “I felt it was prudent to get the budget more or less settled before we did anything else as far as committing to any higher number,” he said, adding that he felt the county wouldn’t be making any additional changes to its bid.
The letter does say that the county can re-evaluate its bid and “make any modifications to the existing offer in writing”, but that after a purchase and sale agreement is drafted with another bidder, no additional or amended offers would be considered.
Baer announced that the proposed county budget for 2010 will have a tax levy increase of 4.6 percent, or $1.75 million. He also went over the state of the county’s finances in relation to capital projects that must be addressed.
Four million dollars was budgeted to balance next years’ budget and keep the tax levy down. Because of $9 million in uncollectible accounts receivable in the county Department of Social Services, the county’s adjusted fund balance is $15.5 million, Baer said. He added that he only expected to utilize half of the $4 million to balance the budget and tax levy. Earlier this year, before the announcement of the uncollectible funds, Baer said the county’s fund balance was about $26 million.
At the end of 2010, Baer said, the county’s fund balance would be down to around $10.5 million. “The increase in the state retirement and pension plan ... was an increase of 100 percent, or $2.8 million,” for next year, the chairman said.
The ongoing recession is also bound to have an effect on the county’s finances.
“2011 is another story,” Baer said, adding that he expected heavy cuts from the state, a lack of stimulus money to make up for it, and a continuing decrease in sales tax revenues.
“We have to go into a very conservative mode here in terms of what we undertake,” he said.
What projects are ‘mandatory’ to complete?
County Public Works Commissioner David Robinson is also on the subcommittee, and outlined the county’s planned capital projects. First on his list was the county courthouse, which needs renovations to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. A new design for the courthouse and courthouse annex is in progress, Robinson said.
The Ockawamick school in Claverack was also addressed.
“We’re starting to use that for county function,” Robinson said. The county facilities workshop is in the process of moving there, and voting machines and copy paper from the Central Services Department have already been stored there. Robinson said he would look to the subcommittee for other short and long term ideas for the school.
Also on the list are several highway and bridge projects, much of the cost of which will be reimbursable via state and federal aid, and some work to the county airport’s south apron.
Baer said the most important and “mandatory” space issues to consider for 2010 were the courthouse renovations and the future home of the Department of Social Services.
The subcommittee went into executive session to discuss the Railroad Avenue location of the county Department of Social Services, and the letter about One City Centre.
Baer said the subcommittee went into executive session to discuss DSS because the discussion “had to do with our current lease agreements” on 25 Railroad Ave., and because the subcommittee had to decide whether to increase its bid on One City Centre, and didn’t want a potential offer increase to be publicized in case of another potential bidder seeing it.
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com.
The meeting began with a layout of the county’s current and impending projects, a brief discussion of the letter the county received from Pyramid Brokerage Firm regarding the purchase of One City Centre, and an overview of the economic impact over the next two years due to an ongoing recession and a significant decrease in the county’s general fund.
Attached to the meeting agenda was a copy of the letter from Pyramid. The letter states that the county’s current bid of $2.6 million on One City Centre is “significantly below the highest offer presented in writing ... the bank has no alternative other than to continue the process with the highest bidder.”
The county bid $2.3 million for the property in July, then upped the bid on Aug. 11 to $2.5 million, then upped it again on Aug. 13 to $2.6 million, the letter said. It also states that in a late September conversation with Bob Ganson, another broker at Pyramid involved in the sale of One City Centre, Baer said the county was “anxious to move the process forward.” Then, in early October, Baer called Ganson, “explaining the need for more time before the process could move forward.”
Baer said the change of heart came from forming the county’s budget. “I felt it was prudent to get the budget more or less settled before we did anything else as far as committing to any higher number,” he said, adding that he felt the county wouldn’t be making any additional changes to its bid.
The letter does say that the county can re-evaluate its bid and “make any modifications to the existing offer in writing”, but that after a purchase and sale agreement is drafted with another bidder, no additional or amended offers would be considered.
Baer announced that the proposed county budget for 2010 will have a tax levy increase of 4.6 percent, or $1.75 million. He also went over the state of the county’s finances in relation to capital projects that must be addressed.
Four million dollars was budgeted to balance next years’ budget and keep the tax levy down. Because of $9 million in uncollectible accounts receivable in the county Department of Social Services, the county’s adjusted fund balance is $15.5 million, Baer said. He added that he only expected to utilize half of the $4 million to balance the budget and tax levy. Earlier this year, before the announcement of the uncollectible funds, Baer said the county’s fund balance was about $26 million.
At the end of 2010, Baer said, the county’s fund balance would be down to around $10.5 million. “The increase in the state retirement and pension plan ... was an increase of 100 percent, or $2.8 million,” for next year, the chairman said.
The ongoing recession is also bound to have an effect on the county’s finances.
“2011 is another story,” Baer said, adding that he expected heavy cuts from the state, a lack of stimulus money to make up for it, and a continuing decrease in sales tax revenues.
“We have to go into a very conservative mode here in terms of what we undertake,” he said.
What projects are ‘mandatory’ to complete?
County Public Works Commissioner David Robinson is also on the subcommittee, and outlined the county’s planned capital projects. First on his list was the county courthouse, which needs renovations to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. A new design for the courthouse and courthouse annex is in progress, Robinson said.
The Ockawamick school in Claverack was also addressed.
“We’re starting to use that for county function,” Robinson said. The county facilities workshop is in the process of moving there, and voting machines and copy paper from the Central Services Department have already been stored there. Robinson said he would look to the subcommittee for other short and long term ideas for the school.
Also on the list are several highway and bridge projects, much of the cost of which will be reimbursable via state and federal aid, and some work to the county airport’s south apron.
Baer said the most important and “mandatory” space issues to consider for 2010 were the courthouse renovations and the future home of the Department of Social Services.
The subcommittee went into executive session to discuss the Railroad Avenue location of the county Department of Social Services, and the letter about One City Centre.
Baer said the subcommittee went into executive session to discuss DSS because the discussion “had to do with our current lease agreements” on 25 Railroad Ave., and because the subcommittee had to decide whether to increase its bid on One City Centre, and didn’t want a potential offer increase to be publicized in case of another potential bidder seeing it.
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com.
Share this Article
 |
 |
|
| Baer answers questions on $9M shortage | Lack of light concerns Warren St. businesses |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of registerstar.com.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
