THAT'S RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. WELCOME BACK TO MID-YEAR BUDGET HEARINGS. [00:00:03] TODAY WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, PROBATION AND THE DA'S OFFICE. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS. [Public Works] RIGHT, JOHN? YES, SIR YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT? GOOD MORNING. FLOOR IS YOURS. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO PRESENT OUR MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW FOR PUBLIC WORKS. WE'RE RESPONSIBLE, OBVIOUSLY, FOR ESSENTIAL COUNTY OPERATIONS ACROSS HIGHWAYS, BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS. FLEET AND THE UTILITY FUND. THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR IS REFLECTED BOTH STRONG OPERATIONAL DEMANDS AND SIGNIFICANT EXTERNAL COST PRESSURES ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT. WE'VE CONTINUED TO DELIVER CORE SERVICES WHILE MANAGING A VERY CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT. THIS YEAR BEGAN WITH A DEMANDING WINTER, WITH AN INCREASE IN SALT USAGE AND OVERTIME. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CONFLICT IN IRAN HAS PUSHED FUEL COSTS HIGHER, CREATING UPWARD PRESSURES ON PETROLEUM BASED PRODUCTS, INCLUDING THE ASPHALT USED IN OUR HIGHWAY PROGRAM, AND THOSE CONDITIONS AFFECTED MULTIPLE DIVISIONS, ESPECIALLY HIGHWAYS, BUT ALSO OUR FACILITIES AND OUR UTILITY OPERATIONS. SO FIRST HALF OVERVIEW BY DIVISION. THE HIGHWAYS ARE EXPERIENCING GREATER BUDGET PRESSURES. MIDYEAR PROJECTIONS DO SHOW AN UNFAVORABLE YEAR END POSITION OF APPROXIMATELY $2.3 MILLION. HOWEVER, I'D LIKE TO CAVEAT THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE HIGHWAY FUND, WHICH WE'RE ON PACE NOW WITH OVER $48.1 MILLION HOME SALES IN THAT TRANSFER TAX DOES COME BACK IN. SO AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE'RE CAUTIOUS RIGHT NOW. BUT I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL WILL BALANCE OUT. PRIMARY DRIVERS FOR OUR HIGHWAYS IS THE SUPPLIES. LIKE I MENTIONED, THE PETROLEUM BASED SUPPLIES, OVERTIME COSTS, SOME OF THE FRINGE BENEFITS RELATED TO PERSONNEL COSTS ARE HIGHER THIS YEAR, AND RELATED OPERATING COSTS TIED TO THE WINTER RESPONSE AND COMMODITY INFLATIONS. HIGHWAY SUPPLIES ALONE ARE PROJECTED TO BE BUDGETED AT ROUGHLY $1.6 MILLION OVERTIME, IS PROJECTED TO FINISH ABOUT $700,000 HIGHER IF WE CONTINUE THE PACE WE'RE ON. I WILL TALK ABOUT MEASURES. WE ARE MITIGATING THAT FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR. THE MAIN DRIVERS, THOUGH, OBVIOUSLY WERE. WHAT I TALKED ABOUT WITH THE ECONOMIC PRESSURES BASED ON UTILITY OR PETROLEUM BASED PRODUCTS, BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS IS ABOVE PLAN, WITH A PROJECTED UNFAVORABLE VARIANCE OF ABOUT $935,000 IN THAT IS THE UTILITIES AGAIN COMMON THEME HERE OVERTIME, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR AND SOME OF OUR CONTRACTUAL COSTS. UTILITIES RIGHT NOW ARE PROJECTED IN THE BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS SIDE TO BE ABOUT $132,000 OVER BUDGET, WHILE OVERTIME IS PROJECTED TO BE ABOUT $124,000 OVER BUDGET. BUT THAT'S USING THE CURRENT BURN RATE. AND AGAIN, THERE'S MITIGATING FACTORS FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT WILL ELIMINATE THAT NEED. BUT THE HARSH WINTER AGAIN, VOLATILITY IN THE ENERGY MARKETS. BUILDING OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN MORE EXPENSIVE THAN ANTICIPATED. THE COMMISSIONER COST CENTER IS PRETTY MUCH AN ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET. IT'S TRACKING FAVORABLY BASED ON OUR MID-YEAR PROJECTIONS, THAT'S EXPECTED TO FINISH ABOUT $348,000 UNDER THE CURRENT BUDGET, AND THAT FAVORABLE POSITION HELPS OFFSET OTHER PRESSURES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. FLEET BY ITSELF IS MANAGED VERY VISIBLY WITH THE COST OF FUEL. THE FIRST SIX MONTHS, THE AVERAGE COST OF UNLEADED IS UP ABOUT $0.47 PER GALLON COMPARED WITH THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 25. DIESEL IS UP ABOUT A DOLLAR A GALLON. COMBINED WITH HIGHER USAGE FLEET SPEND APPROXIMATELY $239,000 MORE ON FUEL DURING THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, INCLUDING ABOUT $152,000 MORE FOR UNLEADED AND ABOUT $87,000 MORE FOR DIESEL. UNLEADED USAGE IS UP ABOUT 19,000 GALLONS THROUGH JUNE. AMBULANCE ACTIVITY IS DEFINITELY CONTRIBUTING TO THAT. WE HAVE MORE AMBULANCES IN THE COUNTY FLEET ON THE RISE AND DIESEL USAGE IS UP ABOUT 5,900 GALLONS. FUEL IS INITIALLY BUDGETED AT $2.1 MILLION. CURRENT USAGE AND PRICING PUTS US ON PACE FOR APPROXIMATELY $2.4 MILLION, OR ABOUT $350,000, ABOVE BUDGET. HOWEVER, SHORT TERM ENERGY OUTLOOKS INFLATION AND SUGGESTED OUTCOMES IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR, WE GO TO A WINTER BLEND. SO THOSE HOPEFULLY THOSE DIESEL COSTS WILL COME BACK DOWN. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY IT'S IT'S UNCERTAIN TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD. THE UTILITY FUND IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN ESSENTIALLY BALANCED, BUT ITS PROJECTIONS REFLECT HIGHER UTILITY EXPENSES AND REVENUE ACTIVITY THAN ORIGINALLY BUDGETED. LARGEST COST DRIVER FOR UTILITY CHARGES, WHICH ARE PROJECTED TO BE ABOUT $1.6 MILLION IS DUE TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND INCREASES GIVEN TO THE NATIONAL GRID. AND NYSEG CURRENTLY WAS AT ABOUT 33% INCREASE IN THE DELIVERY SIDE, NOT THE ACTUAL SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY. IT'S THE SAME THING YOU SEE IN YOUR HOUSES. AND AGAIN, NYSEG JUST GOT ANOTHER 3% INCREASE. SO THOSE WERE UNFORESEEN IN OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET WHEN WE PUT THEM TOGETHER ABOUT A YEAR AGO. [00:05:01] SO KEY BUDGET OVERVIEWS AND ITEMS THAT ARE DRIVING THIS AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, HIGHWAYS, THE LARGEST PRESSURE POINT HIGHWAYS IS SUPPLIES, FUEL SENSITIVE PETROLEUM LINKED MATERIALS SUCH AS ASPHALT. WE'RE PROJECTED TO RUN WELL ABOVE BECAUSE COMMODITY PRICES HAVE MOVED SHARPLY HIGHER OVERTIME, IS ALSO ELEVATED AS A RESULT OF BOTH WINTER STORM RESPONSES, BUT DUE IN SOME HOUSE IN HOUSE WORK WITH OUR PAVING PROGRAM, FRINGE BENEFITS ARE TRACKED ABOVE BUDGET AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PAYROLL COSTS TIED TO THE SAME LABOR PRESSURES BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS PRINCIPAL CONCERNS ARE OBVIOUSLY, AGAIN UTILITY CHARGES, OVERTIME, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. OUR ENERGY COSTS STILL REMAIN VOLATILE AND ALL OUR FACILITIES CONTINUE ROUTINE AND UNPLANNED MAINTENANCE KEEP PUBLIC BUILDINGS OPERATIONAL. CONTRACTUAL SERVICES AND LABOR COSTS ARE ALSO BEING WATCHED CLOSELY. WITHIN THE UTILITY FUND THE MOST EXPENSIVE CATEGORY IS UTILITY CHARGES, WHICH REFLECTS THE COST OF OPERATING AND SUPPORTING OUR UTILITY RELATED SERVICES. THESE COSTS ARE MOVING MARKET CONDITIONS, ENERGY PRICING AND REQUIRE CONTINUED MANAGEMENT THROUGH CONSUMPTION AND CONTROLS, AND MONITORING. FLEET OPERATIONS IS STRONGER THAN WE PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED. WE NOW HAVE TWO CAPABLE MECHANICS TO ALLOW US TO PERFORM MORE REPAIRS IN-HOUSE. FLEET HAS A DEDICATED TOW TRUCK FOR ROAD REPAIRS AND CALLS THAT CAN BE HANDLED NOW INTERNALLY, INSTEAD OF BEING CONTRACTED OUT. TO DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY ARE REGULARLY REACHING OUT TO FLEET FOR REPAIRS, SO OPERATIONS IS CONSISTENTLY BUSY AND PROVIDING PRACTICAL SERVICES ACROSS COUNTY DEPARTMENTS. ON THE VEHICLE SIDE, ENTERPRISE LEASE PAYMENTS ARE TRACKED WERE. ARE EXPECTED TO BE WITHIN THE BUDGET. WE HAVE SEEN SOME OF OUR GAINS WHEN WE'RE SELLING SOME OF THE VEHICLES EXISTING LEASES TO BE BETTER THAN EXPECTED IN VALUE. WE'VE HAD GAINS OF $935,000 ROLLED BACK INTO OUR PROGRAM, MORE THAN $126,000 IN PROJECTED EXCESS GAINS. ENTERPRISE ALSO SOLD SOME COUNTY VEHICLES FOR $93,000 THROUGH JUNE. WE HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ORDERING ISSUES IN 2026 LIKE WE DID IN PREVIOUS YEARS, AND WILL BE AGAIN LOOKING FOR SHORT CYCLING VEHICLES FOR MARKET ADVANTAGES OF EQUITY AND AVAILABLE INCENTIVES. FOR FLEET PRINCIPAL MID-YEAR ISSUE IS FUEL ON UNLEADED AND DIESEL PRICES, BOTH UP NATIONALLY COMPARED WITH THE FIRST HALF OF 25. AND AGAIN, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, STUFF WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST. SO 26 FUEL BUDGET WAS $2.1 MILLION FLEETS CURRENTLY PACING TOWARDS $2.47 MILLION, OR ABOUT $350,000 ABOVE BUDGET. WE'RE WATCHING THAT CLOSELY AND USING ENERGY INFORMATION FOR, LIKE I SAID, THE SHORT-TERM OUTLOOK AND LOOKING AT WHAT THE PRICES WHEN THEY COME DOWN IN THE WINTER WITH THE. THE WINTER BLENDS BECOME AVAILABLE. THE BIG. TWO BIG MAJOR EXTERNAL FACTORS SHAPED THIS YEAR'S MID-YEAR PICTURE IS THE WAR IN IRAN, AS I'VE TALKED ABOUT, THAT'S DRIVING UP OUR FUEL COSTS AND ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS THAT USE PETROLEUM BASED. IT'S OBVIOUSLY A DIRECT IMPACT ON HIGHWAYS IN THE PAVING OPERATIONS. AND THE SECOND, THE YEAR BEGAN WITH THE DEMANDING WINTER WITH OUR SALT USAGE AND OVERTIME OPERATIONS. PRESSURES ARE NOT UNIQUE, THOUGH, JUST TO ERIE COUNTY. THEY'RE ESPECIALLY VISIBLE IN PUBLIC WORKS BECAUSE OUR OPERATIONS ARE HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON THE FUEL MATERIALS, LABOR AND WEATHER CONDITIONS. MITIGATIONS WERE TAKEN. DISCIPLINE APPROACH TO MANAGING THESE PRESSURES WERE MONITORING STAFFING AND OVERTIME CLOSELY. WE'RE PRIORITIZING THE WORK THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE PRESERVATION. CONTINUE TO USE OUR IN-HOUSE CREWS WHERE THE APPROACH IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE THAN OUTSOURCING IT. AND WE'RE ALSO WATCHING MATERIAL PURCHASES CAREFULLY TIMING WHERE PRACTICAL AND REDUCE OUR EXPOSURE TO PEAK. ONE THING I WILL ALSO CAVEAT THAT IS NEXT WEEK WE SHOULD OPEN BIDS ON OUR SALT PRICING FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR. AND WHAT I'M SEEING ACROSS THE STATE IS THERE ARE SOME INCREASES, BUT THEY'RE NOT SIGNIFICANT LIKE WE'D SEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS. IT'S IT'S BEEN PRETTY MODEST OF $5 TO $10 PER TON. WE'LL ALSO CONTINUE TO EVALUATE WHETHER ANY END YEAR ADJUSTMENTS ARE WARRANTED BASED ON COMMODITY MARKETS, WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND ACTUAL TRENDS THROUGHOUT THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR. SO IN CLOSING, PUBLIC WORKS IS CONTINUING TO PROVIDE CRITICAL SERVICES UNDER DIFFICULT CONDITIONS. MANAGED A YEAR SHARP. SHAPED BY WINTER DEMAND, ENERGY VOLATILITY AND INFLATIONARY PRESSURES ON CORE OPERATING MATERIALS. OUR COMMITMENT IS TO KEEP THE DEPARTMENT FOCUSED ON SERVICE, FISCAL DISCIPLINE AND RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF COUNTY RESOURCES. THANK YOU. AND MY TEAM IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THANKS. LEGISLATOR BARGNESI, ACTUALLY, YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION. I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU IF YOU RECEIVED YOUR SALT PRICE FOR THIS YEAR YET. NO, SIR. SO BUT YOU'RE ANTICIPATING IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT MUCH OF AN INCREASE. LAST YEAR WE WERE PAYING ABOUT $57, ALMOST $58 A TON. HOPEFULLY WE STAY BELOW $65. AND THE AVAILABILITY THEY'RE SAYING IS OKAY FOR NOW? WE WE'VE INCREASED ON OUR SIDE, I THINK BY 5000 TONS. WE'VE ALSO TALKED WITH ALL THE TOWNS AT THE MONTHLY MEETINGS, AND A LOT OF TOWNS HAVE MADE THEIR ADJUSTMENTS HIGHER SO THAT THEY DON'T RUN INTO [00:10:07] PREDICAMENTS WITH, WITH COMMODITIES BEING AVAILABLE. AND THEY'RE TELLING YOU THEY COULD FILL THE ORDERS? YES, SIR. SO YOU'RE CONFIDENT. WE LAST YEAR WE WERE FORTUNATELY, WE HAD TWO DIFFERENT CONTRACTS. WE HAD ONE WITH COMPASS MINERALS, ONE WITH AMERICAN ROCK. SO THAT GAVE US A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY. THE COUNTY CONTRACT WAS WITH COMPASS. THAT'S ALL HARVESTED AND ABOVE GROUND AT THE PORT OF BUFFALO. YOU STILL RUN INTO A SUPPLY ISSUE SOMETIMES WITH AMERICAN ROCK BECAUSE AS THE WINTERS GO ON AND IF THEY'RE VERY DIFFICULT, THEY HAVE TO HARVEST THAT MATERIAL AND GET IT ABOVE GROUND. RIGHT. SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE HAVE TWO SEPARATE CONTRACTS THIS YEAR, BUT WE'LL KNOW NEXT WEEK WHEN WE OPEN BIDS. AND YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN YOUR BUDGET FOR THE ANTICIPATED INCREASE? YES SIR VINAL. WHAT IS YOUR FEELING WITH REGARD TO LONG TERM FILLING OF JOBS FOR THE EQUIPMENT OPERATORS? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK AND COMMISSIONER [INAUDIBLE] CAN SPEAK BETTER TO IT, BUT WE HAVE AN IN-HOUSE TRAINING PROGRAM RIGHT NOW. WE'VE HAD A VERY GOOD LIST OF VIABLE CANDIDATES. I WILL 100% HONEST, WE ARE NOT PAYING THE HIGHEST IN THE AREA BY NO MEANS. WE'RE PROBABLY THE LOWEST. THE MUNICIPALITIES PAY MOTOR EQUIPMENT OPERATORS MUCH MORE THAN NEW YORK STATE DOT. AND THEN DOT IS ABOVE US. BUT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN WITHIN AND THE TRAINING PROGRAM. SO WE HAVE OUR LABORERS WHO WORK OUT IN THE DISTRICTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE TRAINING IN-HOUSE AT NO COST. AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE GONE INTO OUR VACANT POSITIONS WHILE WE'RE STILL FILLING THEM FROM THE OUTSIDE TOO, BUT IT'S BEEN A HUGE POSITIVE FOR US SINCE WE STARTED THAT PROGRAM UP ALLOWING OUR EMPLOYEES TO HAVE A PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO GET GOOD TRAINING AND GIVE THEM A PATHWAY FOR FUTURE OPENINGS TOO COULD IT BE CHANGED SO THAT THE PERSON APPLYING KNOWS THAT THERE'S THAT PATH? LIKE SOMETHING LIKE SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT PATH IS AVAILABLE, THAT THEY CAN START AT LABOR AND THEN GET TRAINED LIKE, WHAT DO YOU CALL THOSE PEOPLE? SO THAT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE CHANGED IN THE JOB POSTING BECAUSE IT ISN'T, YOU KNOW, A GUARANTEE THEY HAVE TO PASS THE TEST. BUT I WILL TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY IN THE LABOR POSITION ARE AWARE OF THE OPPORTUNITY. WHEN WE INTERVIEW OUTSIDE CANDIDATES TO FILL LABOR POSITIONS, WE ALWAYS BRING THAT UP IN THE INTERVIEW. WE ASK THEM IF THEY ARE INTERESTED JUST, AND WE LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE IS A PATHWAY IN OUR DEPARTMENT. A LOT OF THE PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE RELIANT ON STARTING STARTING WITH THE CDL. SO WE MADE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND KNOW THAT IT'S AVAILABLE. WE DO JUST HAVE, YOU KNOW, ONE PERSON IN OUR DEPARTMENT DOING THE TRAINING. SO THEY'RE WORKING ON A LIST BASED ON, YOU KNOW, WHO'S UP NEXT? AND BASED ON SENIORITY TO MAKE SURE WE GET OUR PEOPLE TRAINED. BUT IT'S BEEN A, IT'S BEEN A BIG SUCCESS. BUT IN THE NOTICE OF FOR LABOR JOB, CAN YOU PUT THAT IN THERE? THAT THAT'S, IT'S NOT A GUARANTEE, BUT THAT IT'S AVAILABLE, YOU KNOW, SO PEOPLE KNOW THAT? I MEAN, I THINK THAT PEOPLE, EVERYONE I MET THAT WORKS THERE LOVES IT, YOU KNOW, BUT LIKE, AND ALL OF THEM SORT OF FOUND OUT ABOUT THE JOB WHEN I ASKED, YOU KNOW, DID MY OWN LITTLE SURVEY THROUGH SOMEONE ELSE, LIKE AN UNCLE OR THIS OR THAT, YOU KNOW, SO THAT, BUT I THINK PEOPLE THAT FILL UP A LOT MORE PEOPLE KNEW THAT IF YOU GET LABOR, YOU'RE NOT GUARANTEED, BUT YOU HAVE A CHANCE OF BEING FULLY TRAINED AND HAVING THIS JOB PATH THAT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T HAVE, BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY THEY CAN FILL ALL THAT CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. SURE, WE CAN WORK WITH PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT AND HAVE A HIERARCHY OF CAREER PROGRESSION. YEAH. IF THAT WORKS IF ANY, ARE CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE WAY THE FLEET'S BEEN DOING FOR THE 24-HOUR VEHICLE SINCE THEY. SINCE LAST YEAR. YEAH. THE FLEET DEPARTMENT. THEY SAID, AND I DON'T WANT TO REVISIT WATER THAT'S UNDER THE BRIDGE, BUT WE DIDN'T AGREE SO MUCH WITH THE COMPTROLLER'S AUDIT, AND RIGHTFULLY SO. NONE OF THE VEHICLES WERE MISSING. FUEL WASN'T MISSING. HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE SOME OF THOSE BULLET POINTS THAT WE TOOK AND WE'VE EXPANDED UPON. JOE IS HERE. WE'RE WORKING ON THE ELECTRONIC VEHICLE INVENTORY AS WAS REQUESTED. WE HAVE SOFTWARE THAT WE'RE PROPOSING IN OUR 27 BUDGET TO PUT THAT ALL IN ONE SPACE SO THAT IT'S NOT ON A SPREADSHEET. IT'S USING THE ECOSYSTEM. WE'RE EXPANDING THAT IT HAS MODULES THAT WE CAN EXPAND THE TRACK PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE IT WILL BE USED ON OUR SIDE OF THE HOUSE. BUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW IT'S I CAN ONLY SPEAK TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SIDE OF THE HOUSE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH FLEET AND FLEET MANAGEMENT AND OUR VEHICLES, LIKE I REPORTED WITH ENTERPRISE, WE'RE ON TRACK. AND WE'RE, WE'RE WHERE WE PROJECTED OUR BUDGETS TO BE. AND THEN ARE YOU, ARE THEY REQUIRING THE 24-HOUR ASSIGNMENT FORM BEING FILLED OUT BY EVERYONE OR JUST BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH? [00:15:02] THAT'S FOR US. IT'S BY, AS CURRENTLY THE POLICY IS WRITTEN EVERY JUNE. JOE JUST GOT EVERYBODY'S BACK BY THE END OF JUNE THAT HAS A TAKE HOME VEHICLE THAT'S JUST FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SIDE THAT WE MONITOR. SO THEN WHAT? IS THERE ANYTHING BEING DONE TO SEE IF THE TO. AND THE. SO WE STILL DON'T KNOW ON THE SHERIFF'S OR THE, OR THE DA'S AS FAR AS LIKE, WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF HAVING A TAKE HOME VEHICLE? NOT TALKING ABOUT THE DEPUTY CARS BY THE WAY, THE POLICY IS WRITTEN, I ONLY HAVE OVERSIGHT ON THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SIDE OF THE HOUSE FOR MAINTAINING THOSE. THOSE FORMS MAY EXIST, AND I BELIEVE WE UPLOADED THOSE FROM OTHER INDEPENDENT ELECTEDS, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE WE HAD THE DA'S AND THE CLERK'S FORMS THAT WERE UPLOADED AND THEY, THEY SHARED THOSE WITH US. BUT THEY USED THE SAME FORM. OKAY. THEY HAVE. SO JUST TO SHERIFF. IF. YOU HAVE THEM FROM THE SHERIFF OR YOU DON'T HAVE? I DON'T HAVE THE SHERIFF'S FORMS, NO. OKAY. AND THEN SO THE CARS ARE BEING ASSIGNED WITHOUT ANYONE REVIEWING TO SEE IF THEY'RE? ON THE SHERIFF'S SIDE? YEAH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR PROCESS THAT'S LIKE I SAID, I DON'T HAVE OVERSIGHT ON THEIR PROCESS. WE JUST ARE INVOLVED WITH PAYING THE BILLS WITH ENTERPRISE WHEN THEY PURCHASE IT. BUT THE SHERIFF'S DOES HAVE A FLEET MANAGER DEPUTY THAT'S ASSIGNED TO FLEET. DO THEY DO THE. DO THEY DO THE PURCHASING THEMSELVES OR THEY? THEY DO THE PURCHASING THE SPECS AND THEN ENTERPRISE GLOBALLY UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF ENTERPRISE SUPPLIES THE VEHICLES. YES. AND WE PAY ONE BILL THROUGH ERIE COUNTY. AND THEN WHAT IS THAT AMOUNT OF THAT BILL PER YEAR? PER QUARTER OR WHATEVER? FOR THE WHOLE? FOR A YEAR, IT'S ABOUT $7.9 MILLION. OF COURSE, THAT WAS A BUDGET THAT'S COUNTY WIDE. COUNTY WIDE. OKAY. WE GOT THERE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND WHAT IS IT? IS THAT FOR THE? I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY. I MEAN, I THINK ON THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SIDE THERE'S ABOUT 45. I MEAN ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. THANKS. ANYONE ELSE? LEGISLATOR MILLS. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, BILL. NICE TO SEE YOU, SIR. YOU'RE BACK IN THE FRAY OF THINGS. THEY ADDRESSED THE ROXOR ALREADY. BUT YOUR INVENTORY LEVEL IS PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW. YES, SIR. OKAY. WHAT'S YOUR AVAILABILITY FOR GETTING CDL DRIVERS? YEAH. THAT KAREN'S BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB WITH INTERNAL TRAINING. WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY. I THINK EVERY TIME MOSTLY WITHIN, WHICH IS A GOOD POINT. WE'RE BRINGING OUR WORKFORCE UP, BUT WE HAVE HAD QUITE A BIT EXTERNAL APPLICANTS AS WELL. OKAY. WHERE DO WE STAND IN THE PERCENTAGE OF WORK THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED TO MEET THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S GOAL OF ALL THE ROAD WORK? THE CURRENT ROAD PROGRAM. YEAH. I WOULD SAY WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY THERE. I MEAN, SOME OF THE IN-HOUSE PROJECTS YOU KNOW, ONE OF OUR DISTRICTS IS ALMOST COMPLETE. WE'VE GOT A COUPLE THAT ARE ALMOST COMPLETE AND WE'VE GOT A COUPLE THAT ARE GETTING A LATER START JUST BASED ON SCHEDULING. SO THOSE PROJECTS THAT WOULD ESTIMATE PROBABLY ABOUT 50% DONE. THE HAMBURG DISTRICT IS ALMOST COMPLETE WITH EDEN EVANS CENTER THIS WEEK. THEY'LL BE DONE. OUR CLEARANCE DISTRICT IS ALMOST COMPLETE. OUR HARLEM DISTRICTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIRS RIGHT NOW. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OTHER DISTRICTS ARE HAVING A LATER START BASED ON SCHEDULING WITH SOME OF THE VENDORS. SO AS LONG AS THE WEATHER COOPERATES, THEY SHOULD BE WRAPPED UP IN GOOD TIME BEFORE THE FALL. I ASKED THIS QUESTION BECAUSE WE'RE ALMOST TO THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST, AND THE BLACKTOP PLANTS CLOSE IN OCTOBER, USUALLY LATE NOVEMBER NOW. THEY'VE KIND OF SHIFTED. IT USED TO BE RIGHT AROUND COLUMBUS DAY, AND THAT'S HONESTLY THE LAST PROBABLY TEN YEARS. KEEPS MOVING FURTHER TO THE LEFT. AND I THINK WE'RE WELL PAST VETERANS DAY IN TOWARDS ALMOST THANKSGIVING. IT'S GOING TO BE ENVIRONMENTALLY YOU KNOW, WHAT THE WEATHER'S DOING OUT THERE IS WHEN THEY REALLY DO THAT. AND WHAT'S THE. YOU'RE THE CLERK OF THE WORKS FOR THE STADIUM. YEAH. I GUESS I'VE GOT. STADIUM. WE'RE. WE'VE ISSUED THE TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY. WE'RE WORKING WITH GILBANE TURNER CONSTRUCTION MANAGER OUT THERE TO CLEAN UP SOME OF THE ITEMS, BUT IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN A RESIDENTIAL HOUSE. WE HAVE PUNCH LIST ITEMS, AND WE'RE WHITTLING THAT DOWN CLOSER AND CLOSER. THE TARGET DATE IS AUGUST 8TH. WE WILL PROBABLY STILL OPERATE ON A TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY THROUGH THE SEASON AS THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE PUNCH LIST ITEMS TO PERFORM. BUT FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, CODE COMPLIANCE, LIFE SAFETY ISSUES, THE STADIUM IS UP AND FUNCTIONAL AND ABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE OPERATIONS. [00:20:07] SO WE HAVE ENOUGH WATER SUPPLY FOR THE STADIUM AND ENOUGH SEWAGE SUPPLY? WE, WE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH WHEN WE BUILT THE STADIUM THE WATER NOW COMES OFF A SEPARATE MAIN. THERE USED TO BE IN THAT AREA SOME PRESSURE ISSUES THAT WE FOUND OUT WITH THE OLD STADIUM. THE WATER SUPPLY ON ABBOT ROAD WAS INADEQUATE OR THE SUPPLY LINES WERE SMALLER. WE WENT OFF OF FORCED MAINS, BIGGER MAINS OFF OF SOUTHWESTERN. SO THAT ELIMINATED THAT NEED. IT ALSO GAVE US REDUNDANT FEEDS. WE ALSO UPGRADED THEM AT THE SAME TIME. ECC'S WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND THEN THE SEWAGE. WE WORKED WITH ERIE COUNTY SEWERS. IT INCREASED CAPACITY TO HOLDING TANKS. SO WE'RE NOT INUNDATING THEIR SYSTEM AND ALLOWED FOR FUTURE CAPACITY ON THOSE SITES. THOSE ARE ALL THE CONCRETE IN NOW FOR THE SIDEWALKS AROUND THE STADIUM THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PUT IN? THAT'S. IT'S IN THE PLAN. WE. THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A PLAN. WE PROPOSED A PLAN WITH NEW YORK STATE TO DO MORE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. AND THAT'S USING INTEREST THAT WAS EARNED ON OUR, OUR ACCOUNTS WHERE WE PUT THE COUNTY'S $250 MILLION. THAT WAS IN AN INTEREST BEARING ACCOUNT THAT SHOULD CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW SITS AT ABOUT $5.5 OR $5.6 MILLION. THE INTENT IS TO USE THAT MONEY TO CONTINUE SIDEWALKS ON ABBOTT ROAD AS WELL AS ON CALIFORNIA ROAD. THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT QUESTION. ON THE SIDEWALKS ON ABBOTT ROAD, ESPECIALLY GOING NORTH. YES SIR I MEAN, IT'S THERE'S A LOT OF PROPERTIES NOW FOR SALE DOWN THERE. AND I'M GOING TO HAVE SOMEONE MONITOR THE FIRST GAME AS FAR AS CROWD CONTROL AND CROWD THERE, BECAUSE I JUST FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE LOGISTICS OVER THERE. I MEAN, I'M LOOKING AT THE STREET THAT COMES OFF OF WITH THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS. YEAH. AND IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OFF OF THAT STREET OR ON THAT MOSTLY OFF THE STREET ONTO ABBOTT ROAD WITH THE TRAFFIC. IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL LEARNING PROCESS. I THINK. THIS WHOLE SEASON IS GOING TO BE A LEARNING PROCESS. YOU KNOW, WE'VE MODELED TRAFFIC AT THE OLD STADIUM. KIND OF COULD DO A LOT OF PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS OF WHERE PEOPLE WERE GOING TO GO. CURRENTLY IN THE NEW STADIUM WHERE YOUR SEATS ARE. AND IF YOU HAVE PARKING WITH YOUR SEATS IF YOU'RE A SEASON TICKET HOLDER. THEY DIRECT YOU TO A PARKING LOT. EVEN THOUGH WE'RE JUST ACROSS THE STREET BUT MOVING EVERYTHING THAT MUCH FURTHER WEST. REALLY. WE HAVE A RADIAL NETWORK OF ENTRANCES AND EXITS, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE IF PEOPLE DON'T GO AGAINST WHAT THEY HAD DONE THE PREVIOUS 50 YEARS OR 10 YEARS. A LOT OF PEOPLE USED TO HEAD SOUTH AND GET OFF 219 THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE STADIUM, IF THAT'S WHERE THEIR PARKING LOT IS. SO WE'RE, WE'RE TOTALLY ANTICIPATING SOME PRESSURE POINTS. AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO SEE SOME DOWNSTREAM ISSUES THAT WE PROBABLY DIDN'T SEE. I, ESPECIALLY AT THE MCKINLEY INTERSECTION AT 20 AS WE'RE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER WEST, PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS TO EITHER GET TO THE 219 OR THE 90 EXPRESSWAY. WE STARTED SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF CONGESTION LAST YEAR MORE TOWARDS MILE STRIP AND MCKINLEY ENTRANCE AT THAT INTERSECTION. BUT WE'VE WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS IS THE HEAD LAW ENFORCEMENT OUT THERE AND HEAD OF TRAFFIC CONTROL. THERE ARE MORE STATE TROOPERS GOING TO BE DEPLOYED OUT THERE. SO THERE'S 20 EXTRA STATE TROOPERS THAT WE ANTICIPATE DEPLOYING TO SOME OF THOSE FURTHER INTERSECTIONS TO HELP UNCLOG THAT TRAFFIC JAM. AND FINALLY, I WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU PERSONALLY AND YOUR STAFF FOR AN OUTSTANDING JOB THIS YEAR. IN THE 21 YEARS I'VE BEEN ON THIS LEGISLATURE, THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE FINEST YEARS OF PERFORMANCE FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. THANK YOU. THANKS. UP NEXT, WE HAVE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HERE. OH. I'M SORRY. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS HERE. [District Attorney] DISTRICT ATTORNEY KEANE, DO YOU HAVE A MID-YEAR BUDGET MESSAGE FOR US? THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. I CAN YOU HEAR ME? ABSOLUTELY. SO I UNDERSTAND YOU'VE ALL RECEIVED THE MONTHLY BUDGET TO ACTUAL COMPARISON PROVIDED BY THE BUDGET OFFICE. IT'S IT REFLECTS THE ACTUAL EXPENSES THROUGH THE END OF MAY. AND, AND I'M PLEASED TO REPORT THAT WE'RE PRETTY WELL ON TRACK WITH THE BUDGET. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE THAT MAY HAVE CAUGHT YOUR ATTENTION. I'M HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, JUST SORT OF OVERVIEW THE VACANCY REPORTS, YOU MAY HAVE NOTED REFLECT SEVERAL OPEN POSITIONS, BUT FROM THE END OF MAY UNTIL NOW, SEVERAL OF THOSE HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILLED. IN ADDITION TO THAT, MANY OF THE POSITIONS, ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO ATTORNEYS ARE GOING TO BE FILLED AFTER THIS CURRENT CLASS OF LAW STUDENTS THAT JUST GRADUATED IN MAY [00:25:08] TAKE THE BAR AT THE END. WELL, NEXT WEEK AT THE END OF JULY, WE. THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE HAD AN INCOMING CLASS OF YOUNG LAWYERS THAT START WITH US AT THE END OF AUGUST OR THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER. IN 2023, FOR EXAMPLE, WE BROUGHT IN TEN LAWYERS TO FILL A NUMBER OF POSITIONS THAT WE HAD KEPT VACANT FOR LAWYERS THAT WE HAD OFFERED JOBS TO. MANY OF THESE ARE UB LAW STUDENTS. WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF BUFFALO AND THE LAW SCHOOL SPECIFICALLY, AND WE HAVE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE SUMMERS, AS WELL AS EXTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. AND WE. WE GET TO KNOW THE INTERNS AND THEY GET TO KNOW THE WORK THAT WE DO IN THE OFFICE. AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER THEM JOBS BEFORE THEY GET POACHED BY PRIVATE SECTOR FIRMS THAT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PAY THEM MORE. SO IT'S BEEN A GREAT BENEFIT TO US TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THAT RELATIONSHIP. AND, AND SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF LAWYERS TO BE. THEY'RE GOING TO START WITH US AT THE END OF AT THE END OF AUGUST, WHICH IS GOING TO ADDRESS A NUMBER OF THOSE VACANCIES. SO. BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, AND THIS ISN'T PROBABLY NEWS TO TO MANY OF YOU, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE IN THE ERIE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE THE SAME ISSUE THAT MOST OF THE DA'S OFFICES ACROSS THE STATE, IN FACT, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ARE HAVING. AND WE HAVE A RECRUITMENT PROBLEM. WE HAVE A RECRUITMENT CHALLENGE AND A RETENTION CHALLENGE AS WELL. THE RETENTION CHALLENGE GOES WAY BACK YEARS AND YEARS FROM WHEN I STARTED IN 1994. AND IT'S TRUE TO THIS DAY THAT JUST LIKE COMMISSIONER GEARY MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, OUR OFFICE TENDS TO START PEOPLE RIGHT OUT OF LAW SCHOOL. WE TRAIN THEM, WE TEACH THEM HOW TO BE HOW TO BE GOOD TRIAL ATTORNEYS, AND THEN THEY GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO WORK IN EITHER THE PRIVATE SECTOR. AND SOMETIMES, QUITE FRANKLY, WHAT'S MORE FRUSTRATING IS, LIKE COMMISSIONER GEARY MENTIONED, YOU LOSE THEM TO OTHER PUBLIC SECTOR DEPARTMENTS LIKE THE NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE OR THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO PAY, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT WE'VE TRAINED OVER TWO OR 3 OR 4 YEARS, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE THEM AN ADDITIONAL 20 OR 30 GRAND, WHICH IS A LOT OF MONEY TO A YOUNG PERSON JUST STARTING OUT THEIR CAREER. SO WE CONTINUE TO TRY TO COMBAT THAT RETENTION ISSUE. THE THING THAT'S RELATIVELY NEW. THE LAST I'D SAY HALF A DOZEN REALLY SINCE COVID. AND, YOU KNOW, THE CHANGES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAWS ENACTED BY THE STATE IN 2020 THAT TOOK EFFECT IN JANUARY OF 2020, THAT WE HAVE A RECRUITMENT PROBLEM AS WELL. SO YOU KNOW, THE. TO BE, YOU KNOW, COMPLETE IN MY ANSWER, WE DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE NEAR THE PROBLEM THAT MANY OF THE COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE HAVE. WE HAVE UB LAW SCHOOL IN OUR BACKYARD. IT'S A GREAT BENEFIT TO US. YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE RURAL COUNTIES ARE REALLY STRUGGLING, BUT EVEN COUNTIES LIKE, YOU KNOW, MY COLLEAGUE IN SUFFOLK COUNTY, WHERE THEY HAVE THE BENEFIT OF ALL THE NEW YORK CITY LAW SCHOOLS, THEY YOU KNOW, THEY'RE UNDER STAFFED. YOU KNOW, THEY ARE NOT ALL, NONE OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE FULLY STAFFED ACROSS THE STATE. WE'VE DONE SOME VERY CREATIVE THINGS IN TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THAT. I'VE PROBABLY GONE ON TOO LONG, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A FLAVOR OF, OF WHAT WAS YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOMETHING THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU IN OUR, WITH OUR YOU KNOW, BUDGET TO ACTUAL COMPARISON. THE OTHER THING IS THE NON-PERSONNEL EXPENSES. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IT WAS A SNAPSHOT IN 56% WERE JUST A LITTLE BIT OVER, YOU KNOW, A, THE LARGEST CHUNK OF THAT IS AN INVESTMENT THAT WE MADE IN A DIGITAL BASED EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. AXON, WHICH SOME OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH. WE PURCHASED THAT IN THE. IN, AT THE END OF FEBRUARY, I THINK IT WAS. AND THAT WAS PROBABLY THE LARGEST MAJORITY OF OUR NON-PERSONNEL RELATED COSTS THAT SORT OF INFLATED OUR NUMBERS. SO WE'RE A LITTLE BIT ABOVE, BUT I THINK IT'S PRIMARILY DUE TO THAT, TO THAT EXPENSE INCURRED IN FEBRUARY. OTHERWISE, I THINK WE'RE ON TRACK AND AND WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT WE GET, YOU KNOW, THE, AND I, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE IN DIFFERENT TIMES IN 2026 THAN WE WERE A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE GETTING SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS WE ARE RUNNING A PRETTY WE'RE RUNNING IT PRETTY TIGHT TO THE TO THE BUDGET. AND AND SO I'M HOPING THAT WE REMAIN, WE REMAIN AND CONTINUE TO HAVE THE GREAT SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE FROM THIS BODY. SO THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAVE. IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY. THANKS. LEGISLATOR VINAL. AND THE NUMBER OF CASES PER ATTORNEY IS, IS IT GONE UP OR DOWN OR STAYED THE SAME? IT'S. IT'S. SO I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YEAR YOU WERE LOOKING AT. SO I CAN TELL YOU FROM THE DAY THAT I CAME BACK INTO THE OFFICE IN 2017, IT HAS GONE DOWN A LITTLE BIT. [00:30:04] IT WAS APPROXIMATELY, I WOULD SAY WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 30,000 CASES IN ERIE COUNTY IN 2017. THAT'S MISDEMEANORS ALL THE WAY TO THE MOST SERIOUS FELONY CASES. AND NOW WE'RE AT AROUND 25,000. THE BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE ABOUT THAT LEGISLATOR VINAL IS THAT AND I KNOW YOU KNOW THIS AS AN ATTORNEY, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LAWYER HANDLING 50 CASES AND, TODAY. AND A LAWYER HANDLING 50 CASES TEN YEARS AGO IS TO START TO REALLY EXPLAIN IN THIS MOMENT. BUT I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S DIRECTLY RELATED TO OUR DISCOVERY OBLIGATIONS. AND SO HANDLING 50 CASES TODAY IS LIKE HANDLING 150 TEN YEARS AGO. AND I MIGHT EVEN BE LOW IN THAT ESTIMATE. BUT SO WHILE THE NUMBERS ARE A LITTLE BIT LOWER YOU KNOW, THE WORKLOAD IS MUCH, MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT FOR THE LAWYERS IN OUR OFFICE. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SOME CHALLENGES WITH RETENTION AND PEOPLE DON'T, YOU KNOW, IN OUR SORT OF INFORMAL EXIT INTERVIEWS, PEOPLE ARE PRETTY CLEAR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHY THEY'RE GOING TO WORK AT THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME DISCOVERY OBLIGATIONS. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE FRUSTRATIONS IS THAT THEY'RE SORT OF PUSHING PAPER. THEY DIDN'T GO TO LAW SCHOOL TO PUSH PAPER. THEY WENT TO LAW SCHOOL TO STAND UP IN COURT AND ARGUE YOU KNOW, A CASE BEFORE A JURY. SO IN ANY EVENT, IT'S A, THE NUMBERS DON'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY IS MAINLY MY POINT. OKAY. IS DOING CIVIL WORK. I DON'T FEEL THE SAME SYMPATHY ON THE SMALL [LAUGHTER] AMOUNT OF DISCOVERY I'M TALKING ABOUT. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO DO THE JOB. DON'T. EXACTLY. JUST YOU TO VERIFY, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE ARE CALLING FOR, YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATION BY THE COUNTY LEGISLATOR, BUT ABOUT THE IMMIGRANT WHO DIED. BUT ISN'T IT TRUE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN THAT THEY HAVE IMMUNITY FROM STATE PROSECUTION, THAT ONLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN LOOK INTO THAT, NOT US. AND THEY ARE DOING IT NOW, BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT THERE WAS NO ABILITY FOR YOU TO LOOK INTO THAT. SO OBVIOUSLY, AND I KNOW YOU KNOW, THIS, I DON'T, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT SPECIFIC CASES THAT WE'RE WORKING ON OR INVESTIGATING, BUT, I HAVE MADE A STATEMENT PUBLICLY ON THIS SPECIFIC CASE, AND WE ARE CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION INTO IT. IT HAS SOME CHALLENGES, AS YOU AS YOU ARE, ALLUDE TO. AS IS THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS ALSO IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INVESTIGATION. AND, AND I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING, BUT, YOU KNOW, I EXPECT TO BE WITHIN THE NEXT, HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, YOU KNOW, COMING TO A, YOU KNOW, SORT OF AN END ON THAT CASE AND, AND MAKING AN ADDITIONAL PUBLIC STATEMENT ON IT. THIS IS FOR THE IMMIGRANT THAT DIED? YES. OKAY. I'M GLAD TO KNOW THAT. AND THEN ALSO, AS FAR AS WITH REGARD TO RACIAL DISPARITY IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU'RE MAKING HEADWAY ON THAT? IMPROVEMENTS ON THAT UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP SINCE 2017? YES. IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'M PROUD OF. IT STARTED WITH MY PREDECESSOR AND YOU KNOW, THE PREVIOUS DISTRICT ATTORNEY JOHN FLYNN. WE MADE A VERY INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO EXPAND THE DIVERSITY HIRING IN OUR OFFICE. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT HAS HELPED CHANGED. HELPED CHANGE THE PERSPECTIVE AND THE CULTURE IN OUR OFFICE. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE CONSCIOUS OF AND THINK ABOUT ON A DAILY BASIS. RIGHT. AND WITH REGARD TO THE FLEET, ARE YOU. I JUST WANTED TO ASK BECAUSE WE MIGHT AS FAR AS, ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE. ARE YOU INTENDING TO FOLLOW THE LOCAL. THE PROGRAM. THE POLICY OF THE. THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DID THAT'S IN PLACE NOW OR THE NEW ONE OR DO YOUR OWN FOR APPROVAL? SO I AS YOU MAY RECALL IN ON APRIL 2ND, WHEN I WAS HERE, I HAD JUST PRIOR TO THAT SUBMITTED TO THE BODY YOU KNOW, THE, THE POLICY THAT WE DEVELOPED AND INSTITUTED FOR OUR EMPLOYEES IN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. I AM AWARE OF THE 2016 OR 2017, I THINK POLICY. THAT I THINK YOU'RE REFERENCING WITH RESPECT TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. I'M AWARE OF IT, AND THERE'S SOME AMBIGUITY IN THERE. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS BODY WAS ALSO GOING TO BE COMING FORTH WITH AN ADDITIONAL POLICY. AS I INDICATED BACK IN APRIL OBVIOUSLY I WOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION, I'D LIKE TO REVIEW IT BEFORE I SIGN OFF ON SOMETHING I HAVEN'T REVIEWED. SO ONCE I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT, I'LL CERTAINLY TAKE, TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY SUGGESTIONS. AND I'M, AND I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT DIALOG. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANKS. DO YOU HAVE ANY? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. UP NEXT, WE HAVE. SORRY, COMMISSIONER ROBILLARD FROM PROBATION. HOW ARE YOU? [Probation] [00:35:23] I SEE YOU. HAVEN'T SEEN IT. COMMISSIONER SORRY. I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO YOU. I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE GONE SECOND TODAY. AND I MADE A MISTAKE THERE. SO THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE. OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND. [LAUGHTER]. BUT THE FLOOR IS YOURS. GOOD MORNING. RICH ROBILLARD, PROBATION COMMISSIONER, ACCOMPANIED BY SYSTEMS ACCOUNTANT ANGELA ZONA. AND PRINCIPAL PROBATION OFFICER MICHELLE FLYNN. I'D LIKE TO THANK THIS HONORABLE BODY THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT A MID-YEAR REVIEW OF THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES. PROBATION CONTINUES TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AND COURT SUPPORT, AS OUTLINED IN THE OFFICE OF PROBATION AND CORRECTIONAL ALTERNATIVES REGULATIONS. OUR DEPARTMENT'S 2026 BUDGET OUTLINES APPROXIMATELY $18.6 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES AND $3.4 MILLION IN REVENUE. OF THAT REVENUE, $2.9 MILLION OF IT IS STATE AID THAT WILL BE COLLECTED BASED ON STATE AWARDS. IN REGARD TO REVENUE, OVERALL REVENUE AS OF MAY 31ST IS AT 33.4% OF BUDGET. OUR FIVE-MONTH TARGET REVENUE IS JUST OVER $1.4 MILLION, AND WE'VE RECEIVED $1.2 MILLION OF THAT. THE DIFFERENCE IS MOSTLY DUE TO SOME REVENUE POSTINGS FOR THOSE FIVE MONTHS NOT HAPPENING UNTIL THE MONTH OF JUNE. AS FAR AS EXPENDITURES, AS OF MAY 31ST, OUR EXPENSES WERE APPROXIMATELY $8.3 MILLION. 42% OF BUDGET NO EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS ARE OVER 50% AT THE END OF MAY. WE EXPECT OVERALL DEPARTMENT EXPENDITURES TO BE WITHIN BUDGET FOR THE YEAR. IN OUR POSITIONAL SUMMARY, WE HAVE 175 TOTAL POSITIONS, 34 OF THOSE ENTIRELY OR PARTIALLY GRANT FUNDED. FIVE OF THOSE ARE FUNDED BY THE PHARMACEUTICAL SETTLEMENT FUND. OUR VACANCY REPORT AS OF THE END OF MAY WAS SIX VACANCIES SINCE THE END OF MAY. TWO OF THOSE HAVE BEEN FILLED. TWO OF THOSE ARE IN THE HIRING PROCESS. WE HAVE TWO THAT ARE ON HOLD FOR CIVIL SERVICE RELATED REASONS. PEOPLE HAVING HOLD ON POSITIONS. WE EXPECT ANOTHER 2 TO 3 MONTHS BEFORE WE FILL THOSE. I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ANYONE MAY HAVE. THANKS. OVERALL THOUGH, YOU ARE AT OR UNDER BUDGET ACROSS YOUR DEPARTMENT IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE. CORRECT? YES. YEAH. WE'RE DOING GREAT. THANKS A LOT. [LAUGHTER] OKAY. THANK YOU. MAKES IT EASY. NO PROBLEM. ALL RIGHT. THAT WRAPS UP OUR MID-YEAR BUDGET HEARINGS. THANK YOU EVERYONE. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.