March 7, 2008
Counties Call on Senate and Assembly to Reject State Budget Cost Shifts
Counties across the state continue to pass resolutions expressing opposition to two state to county cost shifts included in the proposed 2008-09 State Budget. In addiation, county officials continue to contact their state representatives and conduct press conferences this week, urging state lawmakers to reject State budget cost shifts. County officials from across the state—Republican and Democrat—are united on behalf of local property taxpayers—there is no appetite for the State to shift costs to county property taxpayers.
The proposed State budget includes two substantial cost shifts that will be added to county budgets and the local property tax burden, including an increased share of welfare benefits and a shift of the full cost of funding local youth detention facilities. Our analysis shows a negative impact to counties of at least $34 million in the current calendar year and $50 million in the next. When additional proposals from the Executive Budget, including the negative impacts to county nursing facilities ($37.5 million), loss of Consolidated Highway Improvement Project (CHIPs) Aid ($2.8 million), and reduced aid to community colleges ($8.2 million) are factored in, counties will see an even larger net negative impact from the budget.
“Most of what we do—as high as 80 percent of our spending—is mandated by the state,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. “When the state unilaterally alters traditional funding partnerships with its local governments, we at the local level have two choices—cut services or raise taxes.”
In response to local opposition, the New York State Division of the Budget responded with a new report that claims that counties will see a net positive impact in the state budget and that any argument to the contrary is misleading. (http://www.budget.state.ny.us/pubs/gordon/countyimpacts.pdf).
In addition, DOB put out the following statement: "The idea that somehow county governments will be forced to raise property taxes to cover what is a net positive impact from our State budget represents nothing more than a red herring. Should county executives carry through on their threat to raise property taxes, they will be doing so because of their own choices and their own judgments, not because of a State budget that amounts to a net win for their fiscal books. Even the worst-case scenario expressed by county advocates, which contradicts all of our facts to date, can't be a justification for raising property taxes given how small a percentage the impact would be of their total revenues as well as of their discretionary spending growth.”
The counties’ response to the DOB Report:
“Clearly, the new DOB analysis demonstrates a lack of understanding of the basic structure of a county budget and how property taxes are levied. In response, NYSAC issued the following detailed response that clarifies point by point how the proposed state budget will impact counties and county taxpayers.” (Link to our report: http://www.nysac.org/documents/NYSACStatementinResponsetoDOBStatement.pdf)
Next week the Senate and Assembly will pass one-house versions of the State budget and begin negotiations with the Governor on a final State spending plan. Counties will continue their statewide advocacy with many events and meetings that will cumulate into a press conference in Buffalo where counties from across upstate will come together on a bi-partisan basis to call for a State budget that does not shift State costs to county property taxpayers. (Ken Crannell)
Counties From Across the U.S. Adopt NYSAC’s 9/11 Health Resolution
The National Association of Counties (NACo) this week unanimously adopted a New York State Association of Counties sponsored resolution in support of Federal legislation that will ensure that everyone exposed to the 9/11 Ground Zero toxins continues to have the right to be medically monitored and all who are sick as a result have a right to treatment.
The resolution was sponsored by the Chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, William J. Ryan, in support of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s effort to have congress continue its commitment to fund this important and unique health care program, also known as the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. Westchester County Legislator Thomas Abinanti, a member of the Health Steering Committee, advocated for the proposal during the hearing process.
“Providing care and treatment for those injured as a result of the September 11 attacks is a national responsibility. I welcome the support of the National Association of Counties and want to thank Bill Ryan for his leadership on this issue,” said New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. (Mark LaVigne)
NYSAC to Host Tour of State Corrections Food Production Center
NYSAC has invited member county officials from around the State to join NYSAC for a tour of the New York State Department of Correctional Services’ (DOCS) Food Production Center in Rome, NY. The tour will take place at 10:30 a.m. on April 10th and allow county officials the opportunity see this operation first hand and learn about a new opportunity to purchase these meals for your county jail.
The DOCS “Cook/Chill” facility provides low-cost, nutritional meals to inmates in state correctional facilities, and the 2008-09 Executive Budget Proposal includes a provision to counties to contract with this facility to provide the same low cost meals to county jails.
Under the “cook/chill” process, massive quantities of food are produced to a “just-done” state, then chilled rapidly and stored under tightly controlled temperature conditions. The products are then shipped in large, sealed plastic bags and the food only has to be reheated at the participating facilities before serving. One of the many advantages of this program is the cost savings realized through the centralization of menus, recipes, sources and suppliers of raw ingredients and low labor costs which are passed on to participating facilities. Given the potential for significant cost savings, we recommend that all counties explore the opportunity. (Adriano Bongiorno)
NYSAC News Call for Spring Articles
NYSAC is planning our Spring 2008 issue of the NYSAC News magazine, and we are seeking articles for submission. The focus of this issue will be the County Workforce, and will include stories on the many good things our county public servants do to make New York a better place to live and work.
If you have a story about your county workforce, please consider sending it along. We are hoping for active county participation for this issue. Submissions should be between 750 to 1,000 words and include a 300 dpi photograph of the author or an appropriate photograph to accompany the text. The deadline for submissions is March 15, 2008. Submissions should be sent to mlavigne@nysac.org. We will only be able to include articles that are received by this date. (Mark LaVigne)
Save the Dates
County Finance School - April 30 through May 2, 2008 in Syracuse, Onondaga County.
NYSAC Fall Seminar - September 24-26, 2008 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County
Coming Next Week
- The New York State Legislature is scheduled to be in session from Monday through Thursday.
- Wednesday – the Senate and Assembly are scheduled to pass one-house budget bills.
- Thursday – Western InterCounty Association will hold a press conference hosted by Erie County on Thursday, March 13th at 1:30 p.m.
- Thursday – the Joint Senate/Assembly budget conference committees commence.
