NYSAC - New York State Association of Counties

August 15 , 2008

Counties React to State Budget Deficit: Express Concern of Cost Shift to Property Tax Base
In response to a massive state budget deficit, Governor David Paterson this week advanced $2.6 Billion in budget cuts for the State Legislature to consider in the Special Session he has called for next Tuesday, August 19th. The Governor's objective is to obtain $600 million from the Legislature now, and next year, when the cuts are fully annualized, achieve a total of $1.6 Billion in State savings.

The Governor’s plan proposes to reduce state aid to counties by 6 percent and would affect numerous programs, including: probation, aid for administering state social services, community college tuition, foster care block grant funding, adoption subsidies, child care, general public health works and early intervention. In total, these proposals could represent the largest cost shift to counties proposed in decades. 

After reviewing the proposals made by the Governor, NYSAC urged state government leaders to draw a distinction between "cuts" in state funding, and blatant cost shifting by the state to the counties for delivering state mandated services. "The difference could spell property tax increases for New York's overburdened homeowners and businesses," said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario.

If approved by the Legislature, the proposed cost shifts will be applied immediately in 2008 against any unspent funding. The following programs are exempt from the Governor's six percent cut: Welfare, School Aid, Child Welfare, Youth Detention and Special Education. 

In addition to the across the board cost shifts, county-operated nursing homes would be impacted by losing public nursing home grants which total $35 million this year and $100 million next year, elimination of the nursing home trend factor on a half-year basis in calendar year 2008 and a full elimination in 2009, reduction of the 2008 rebasing transition payments, delay of rebasing payments from January to April 2009 and a cap on the 2009 rebasing payments. Also, the Governor would implement an across the board nursing home rate reduction that is equivalent to 4 percent in 2008-09 and 2 percent annually thereafter.

For more details on how the proposed cuts would impact counties, download the PDF of NYSAC’s Highlights of Paterson Mid-Year Budget Plan. 

In a press release issued Friday, NYSAC responded to the proposed state cost shifts. Visit www.nysac.org, or click here for the full press release.

Register today for NYSAC’s Fall Seminar in Niagara Falls
NYSAC is pleased to invite you to attend our 2008 Fall Seminar, which will be held in beautiful Niagara Falls, New York (Niagara County) on September 24th through 26th.

This year's Fall Seminar theme is Navigating the Waters of Tough Financial Times, and will include a broad array of timely programs and sessions designed to support the day-to-day efforts of today's county officials struggling to balance dwindling budgets. NYSAC has developed a comprehensive program of workshops, plenary sessions, training programs and networking opportunities to help county officials explore solutions and share new approaches for cost efficient government. The Seminar will also spotlight a special series of workshops on cost saving approaches to energy sponsored by NYSAC and the New York Power Authority.

Workshops, meals and plenary sessions will take place at the state-of-the-art Conference Center of Niagara Falls and hotel accommodations will be based at the newly renovated Crowne Plaza of Niagara Falls located directly across the street. 

Visit www.nysac.org to download a copy of program and registration information.

NYSAC Calls for Articles Fall Magazine on Technology
The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) is planning our Fall 2008 issue of the NYSAC News magazine, and we are seeking articles for submission. The focus of this issue will be Technology and Information Solutions. From financial management systems to databases and data mining, from Web sites to blogging and social networking, counties are embracing new technology innovations for day-to-day operations and service delivery.

This issue will have stories about a county’s broadband initiative, the Local Government IT Directors’ Association, the CIO of the year (a county IT Director), as well as many others. We are particularly interested in best practice stories of innovations at the local level. 

Submissions should be between 750 to 1,000 words and include a high resolution (300 dpi) photograph of the author. Articles should be sent to mlavigne@nysac.org by September 14, 2008.

To download a PDF copy of the latest magazine, visit our website at www.nysac.org.

NYSAC  & Division of Veterans Affairs Launch Joint Initiative to Aid Returning Veterans
NYSAC and the New York State Division of Veterans of Affairs will launch a joint initiative to provide assistance to our returning veterans and their families as part of a webinar presentation on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.

The webinar entitled “Paving the Road Home, Building a State/County Partnership to Aid Our Returning Vets and their Families” will inform county officials of the unique challenges returning service personnel and their families are facing because of their service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thousands of New Yorkers have served our nation in the armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi freedom since the onset of these conflicts. An estimated 53 percent of the forces involved in these conflicts have come from active duty call ups of National Guard and Reserve Units, often experiencing multiple deployments and for longer periods of time than those experienced by veterans from prior conflicts.

“The nature of military deployments for these 2 conflicts, have placed severe hardships on our military personnel and their families,” stated NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. “Counties provide comprehensive services at the local level that can be of assistance to the members of our armed forces and their families during this trying time. NYSAC is extremely proud to enter into this joint initiative with the New York State Division of Veterans affairs to ensure that our military personnel and their families receive the assistance they need before, during and after their service to our nation.”

The webinar will feature a presentation by Col. James D. McDonough, Jr. USA (ret), Director of the New York State Division of Veterans Affairs, who will detail the nature of the current deployments under Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and their effects on the lives of our military personnel and the families they leave behind. Col. McDonough will describe the need for a state/county partnership to assist our veterans, in Paving the Road Home.

NYSAC and the Division of Veterans Affairs will also offer a comprehensive series of workshops on the issues confronting our returning Veterans at the Fall Conference of the New York State Association of Counties, September 24- 26 in Niagara Falls.  Information on the conference, the Webinar and registration information is available on the NYSAC website at www.nysac.org

New York State Counties Invited to Apply for Government Innovations Award
Harvard University invites you to apply for the Innovations in American Government Award.

Administered by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, the Innovations Award is heralded as the premier public-sector award in the nation. It is given annually to programs that serve as examples of creative and effective government at its best.

All units of government--federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial—from all policy areas are eligible to apply. The top winners of the 2009 Innovations Award will receive a $100,000 grant to support replication and dissemination activities.  All winners and finalists receive monetary grants.

Applications and additional information are available on our website: www.innovationsaward.harvard.edu, and are due September 30, 2008

Next Week
The New York State Assembly and Senate will be in Albany on Tuesday for a special session convened by Governor David Paterson.