Election Coverage 2014 – Suffolk County Proposals

This Voter Guide was created by The League of Women Voters of Suffolk County.  It will help you evaluate the Suffolk County proposals that will be on the November 2014 ballot.

SUFFOLK COUNTY PROPOSAL NUMBER ONE (appears as proposal #4 on the ballot after the three NYS proposals)
FORM OF SUBMISSION (how the proposal will be presented to you on the ballot):
A Charter Law To Consolidate Financial Management Functions In The County Department Of Audit And Control Resolution No. 507-2014, is a Charter Law that proposes to transfer and consolidate the functions of the Department of Finance and Taxation into the Department of Audit and Control, headed by a County Comptroller elected from the general population. If approved, this Resolution will eliminate the existing office of County Treasurer and consolidate all powers and duties of the Treasurer in the office of the County Comptroller, effective January 1, 2018.
Shall Resolution No. 507-2014 be approved?

WHAT WILL THIS AMENDMENT DO IF APPROVED?
Enactment of this proposed Charter Law would abolish the office of the Suffolk County Treasurer (“Treasurer”). The Department of Finance and Taxation, which is currently headed by the Treasurer, would also be eliminated. The Suffolk County Comptroller would assume all powers and duties currently assigned to the Treasurer by the Suffolk County Charter and Suffolk County Administrative Code.
If approved, the Department of Finance and Taxation and the position of Treasurer would be abolished as of midnight, December 31, 2017 and the functions of the Department of Finance and Taxation would merge and be consolidated in the Department of Audit and Control on January 1, 2018.

In addition to the Treasurer, the positions of Chief Deputy Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer would be eliminated. All other positions in the Department of Finance and Taxation would be transferred or abolished by resolution of the Suffolk County Legislature.
If this referendum is approved by the electorate, this law would take effect upon filing in the office of the Secretary of State.

PROPONENTS OF THIS AMENDMENT ARGUE:
Abolishing the office of Treasurer and the Department of Finance and Taxation will initially result in annual savings of approximately $800,000 (the payroll costs for the Treasurer, Chief Deputy Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer). Combining the Departments of Finance and Taxation with the Department of Audit and Control (headed by the elected Comptroller) will result in streamlined government departments.

OPPONENTS OF THIS AMENDMENT ARGUE:
The Suffolk County Legislature’s Budget Review Office has been unable to verify or project long term cost savings beyond the initial $800,00 once the departments are consolidated.
There are no requirements or guarantees that there will not be additional management hires or consultants contracted with to absorb management responsibilities created by the consolidation of the two departments.
There has been no thorough financial study done determining whether any further positions would be eliminated in either department if consolidation occurs. There should be separation between the officer responsible for auditing and the officer responsible for paying out public funds.  The separate office of Treasurer (either elected or appointed) does exist in most counties in New York State.

SUFFOLK COUNTY PROPOSAL NUMBER TWO (appears as proposal #5 on the ballot after the three NYS proposals)

FORM OF SUBMISSION (how the proposal will be presented to you on the ballot):
A Charter Law Amending the ¼% Suffolk County Drinking Water Protection Program (DWPP) for Enhanced Water Quality Protection, Wastewater Infrastructure And General Property Fund Tax Relief for Suffolk County Resolution No. 579-2014 is a Charter Law that:

i. extends the sunset period found in Local Law No. 44-2011 from 2013 to 2017 to allow the use of excess Assessment Stabilization Reserve Fund balance for deposits to reserve funds for the payment of County bonds or retirement contributions to provide general property tax relief; ii. mandates, commencing in County Fiscal Year 2018 and continuing through Fiscal Year 2029, the restoration of funds allocated from the Assessment Stabilization Reserve Fund in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017; iii. allows the use of excess Assessment Stabilization Reserve Funds Balances to fund sewer infrastructure, sewage treatment plants, and the installation of enhanced nitrogen removal septic systems throughout Suffolk County; iv. authorizes the County to issue $29.4 million in serial bonds for a 2014 Enhanced Suffolk County Water Quality Protection Program.
The phrase “excess Assessment Stabilization Reserve Fund Balance” means balances in the sewer rate stabilization component of the DWPP greater than needed for sewer district tax rate stabilization only in those instances in which the pertinent sewer district will experience an increase in rates of at least 3% in the aggregate.
Shall Resolution No. 579-2014 be approved?

WHAT WILL THIS AMENDMENT DO IF APPROVED?
Ends Suffolk County’s practice of diverting funds from the Drinking Water Protection Program (DWPP) to balance the Suffolk County Budget Mandates restoration of diverted funds Establishes a schedule of repayment of diverted funds Authorizes Suffolk County to issue a bond for the Enhanced Suffolk County Water Protection Program Allows Suffolk County to use excess funds for sewer infrastructure, sewer treatment plants and installation of enhanced nitrogen removal septic systems throughout Suffolk County

PROPONENTS OF THIS AMENDMENT ARGUE:
Stops diversion of DWPP budget funds Restores diverted funds and establishes a schedule for repayment Gives County the power to borrow money for repayment of diverted funds instead of increasing taxes Establishes an Enhanced Water Quality Program for environmental restoration and groundwater protection.

OPPONENTS OF THIS AMENDMENT ARGUE:
County will have to pay interest when they borrow money to repay diverted funds – ultimately impacting taxpayers The DWPP loses since the repayment schedule does not require the County to pay interest on the return of the diverted funds Does not prohibit the County from dipping into the DWPP in the future to meet other long term financial needs.