Property tax rate reduction for first time in a decade

Dinolfo points to creation and retention of more than 19,000 jobs over the past three years

Budget calls for an additional $2.1M in assistance for affordable child care

$33M in infrastructure improvements next year

Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo announced her 2019 budget before the county legislature on Thursday.

The $1.23 billion spending plan calls for a 10-cent reduction in the property tax rate, from $8.99 per $1,000 of assessed value to $8.89 per $1,000. This is the first time in a decade that the county rate has fallen.

Dinolfo estimated the reduction would result in $4 million in savings for local taxpayers.

"At a time when homeowners are facing tax hikes at nearly every turn, Monroe County is doing its part to lessen the burden for everyone who calls our community home," she said.

In a written response, Monroe County Legislature Minority Leader Cindy Kaleh, D-Rochester, noted that while the tax rate is indeed down for 2019, the tax property levy — the total amount the county will raise via property taxes — is slated to increase by $11.6 million.

"While a drop in the tax rate is always welcome, the fact remains the County is collecting the highest amount of taxes it ever has this year," she said. "That money comes out of the pockets of taxpayers and what do they get for it? Public safety retirees being stripped of insurance, fewer health inspectors, a struggling child protective services department, and a bloated county communications department."

Dinolfo announced some portions of the budget during events held earlier this week, including her proposals to support workforce development and to invest in services for children and families.

She touted the accomplishments of economic development agency Imagine Monroe, as well as programs including LadderZUp, Recruiting on the Road and Make Monroe Home. She said the county will invest nearly $2.5 million in its Department of Planning and Development, which administers many of the county's economic and workforce development programs, services and initiatives.

She noted the county assisted in the creation and retention of more than 19,000 jobs over the past three years.

LadderZUp, which provides education and training for current and future job openings, will become a permanent program going forward, she said. And the Make Monroe Home initiative, which assists people who rehabilitate vacant "zombie" homes, will expand, with the county actively seeking dilapidated properties in need of demolition. Shovel-ready parcels will be turned over to Monroe No. 1 and Monroe-Orleans No. 2 boards of cooperative educational services so vocational training students can build a brand-new homes on the sites.

Spending on infrastructure

The budget also provides for $33 million in infrastructure improvements next year, including local road and bridge projects, and the first phase of a program that will bring energy-efficient LED lighting along interstates 390 and 490.

In Spring of 2019, the county will also move its economic development arm to the first floor of the City Place building in Rochester, something Dinolfo said is meant to signal that "Monroe County is serious about jobs, serious about economic development" and that "Monroe County is open for business."

During a "Stronger Families" event on Wednesday, Dinolfo also announced initiatives to invest more in local children and families.

The budget calls for an additional $2.1 million to assist with affordable child care, an amount Dinolfo said doubles the increase requested by advocacy group The Children's Agenda.

Additionally, Dinolfo said the budget continues to support her 8-Point Plan to reform Child Protective Services, first outlined in late 2017. She said since the plan launched, there has been a 19 percent decrease in the number of open CPS cases and the average caseload per worker has fallen by 15 percent. The county is also having more success retaining caseworkers.

The 2019 budget adds funding for 30 new child protective caseworker aides who will help investigative caseworkers complete and file paperwork and case notes.

"That will help our caseworkers devote more of their time to protecting children and families," said Dinolfo. "The less time they're working on paperwork, the more time they have to help provide a safe environment for families and children."

As she has done every year since taking office, Dinolfo decried state-mandated spending, which she said accounts for 85 percent of all county spending. She noted that nine state-mandated programs and services consume about 99 percent of all property taxes collected outside New York City. Those programs are Medicaid, public assistance, child welfare, indigent defense, pre-K special education, probation, early intervention, youth detention and public employee pensions.

"Mandated spending is nothing more than a name for costs counties cover when Albany passes the buck to county taxpayers," she said. For example, if the state would take over Medicaid funding, Dinolfo said, she would be "able to cut your property taxes in half tomorrow."

Dinolfo's budget proposal will be considered for adoption by the County Legislature at its regular December meeting.

MCDERMOT@Gannett.com

PSINGER@Gannett.com

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