Delhi News Bureau

DELHI — The Delaware County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution Wednesday seeking permission to apply to the state Legislature for a sales tax increase if the board decides it will be needed to keep property taxes from going up.

Walton Supervisor Joseph Hanley said the board does not have a clear picture of the county's financial state. He said the board was waiting for a complete report from Beverly Shields, the county treasurer.

Hanley said the original wording of the resolution was amended to indicate that the board would ask the state for a sales tax increase of up to 1 percent.

"We are not raising the sales tax, this is merely a preliminary step to get approval to raise the sales tax," Hanley said. "The increase will not necessarily be 1 percent; it would be 1/4, 1/2, or 3/4 of a percent. This is merely a move so we don't get caught short."

Several supervisors said they are concerned a complete financial accounting is not available.

"Before I ever vote for any more sales tax, I want a full-blown accounting of where the county stands financially," Tompkins Supervisor Perry Shelton said. "Sometimes I have a funny feeling that spending has something to do with it."

Hamden Supervisor Wayne Marshfield added, "I too would like to see an accounting of our financial condition."

The resolution noted that an increase in sales tax is an equitable form of distribution and it would only be enacted if necessary to avoid a tremendous impact on real property taxes.

"Sales tax has its drawbacks, but it may be the most equitable," he added.

Shelton said he didn't like the fact that New York City would benefit by not having to pay increased property taxes if the county opted to raise funds through sales tax rather than property tax.

"Our mortal enemy, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, will enjoy the full fruits of any sales tax," Shelton said.

Marshfield agreed that the city continues to buy more and more land.

"It seems like at every board meeting I hold, another parcel of land is put through that New York City purchased," Marshfield said. "Sixty-six percent of our assessed tax base belongs to New York City or non-resident owners, while people that reside here pay upwards of 80 cents of every dollar we collect in sales tax."

William Moon, Department of Social Services commissioner, said that with the defeat of Gov. George Pataki's budget, some of the concerns over Medicaid funding have been alleviated, but other concerns have surfaced.

"Family Health Plus is the budget buster now," Moon said. "We are averaging 35 new applications a week and at the rate we are going it's going to cost the county $1.5 million by the end of the year."

Moon said Health Care Plus costs $320 per month per individual to purchase a health plan from an HMO. The county pays 25 percent of that cost.

Moon added that Health Care Plus is based on income and not on total assets or resources. He said he knows of many people who have valuable resources who are taking advantage of the program.

Harpersfield Supervisor James Eisel, board chairman, said, "It's incredible, unbelievable, that nobody in Albany is talking about cutting some of these programs."

Hanley said, "I don't like to deny anyone health care services, but the people who work are going to start being cut on services that they need. We are going to be facing some tough decisions in this budget year. It's not going to be a pretty picture."