NORWICH – Chenango County urged Governor David Paterson and the New York State Legislature to avoid cost shifts to county governments in a resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors Monday.

“We are playing our part. We are encouraging all municipalities and individuals to do the same,” Chairman Richard B. Decker said.

The resolution advocates that the state’s legislature “exercise discretion and restraint” during the Governor’s Nov. 18 emergency budgeting session where lawmakers are being asked to trim $1.5 billion from the state’s current budget shortfall.

Chenango County joins other members of the New York State County Executives Association in calling on the state to avoid cost cutting that could shift the burden to local taxpayers. A bipartisan group of county chief executives, participating in a conference call late last week, recommended $1 billion in cuts that would not increase taxes for homeowners or businesses.

“The current situation is not insurmountable. We can fundamentally restructure our state mandate program in a way that reduces costs and improves core public programs and services,” said Stephen J. Acquario, executive director of the NYSCEA.

The Board of Supervisors agreed unanimously to adopt the resolution after agreeing to a five-year labor contract and just minutes before establishing a date for a public hearing on the 2009 tentative budget.

The Chenango County Civil Service Employees Association Unit ratified a term agreement on Nov. 8 that covers working conditions, wages and benefits for the 300 county employees represented. According to CSEA President Patty Murray, the contract ensures employees a 4.5 percent raise for the first, second and third years and a 4 percent raise for the fourth and fifth years, representing a 21 percent increase.

The vote was 186 for and 27 against out of 249 registered CSEA voters.

Chenango County’s proposed budget calls for taxpayers to raise $22 million for government programs, services and personnel next year. During a discussion of county and highway surplus levels and the state funds that could be cut back next week, Town of Pharsalia Supervisor Dennis Brown commented, “We just passed the employee’s contract, and those people are going to want a check each Friday no matter what the government does on any given day.”

In preparation for the Nov. 18 special session Governor Paterson will hold a town hall meeting Nov. 11 at the Onondaga County Civic Center in Syracuse. The session is open to the public.