2007 NYSAC Press Releases
You Are Here:
NYSAC Delegates to Governor: "Property Tax Relief Runs through our Counties"
County leaders adopt resolution calling for a “Partnership for Change”
Governor Eliot Spitzer’s focus on property tax relief was welcome today for the more than 750 attendees on hand in Albany today at the New York State Association of Counties’ annual Legislative Conference.
“Most of this state’s health care, social services, criminal justice and transportation programs go through our counties. We deliver—and local taxpayers pay for—many of the programs and services mandated by the state,” said NYSAC President Lucille M. McKnight, an Albany County legislator. “That is why we are saying that any real property tax relief must run through our counties, and we are ready to be partners in making that happen.”
The county delegates were on hand to hear from Governor Eliot Spitzer and legislative leaders, attend workshops and meetings, and reinforce their collective priorities for the year. They were pleased to hear the Governor’s commitment to sustaining the cap on the growth of county Medicaid costs, a move that has helped most counties rein in local property tax increases.
“The Medicaid Cap provided immediate relief to county taxpayers and was a direct result of an effective state-county partnership designed to respond to our biggest challenge—escalating property taxes,” said Thomas J. Santulli, president of the NYS County Executives Association and Chemung County Executive.
Now the priorities for New York counties are reducing the impact of other underfunded state mandates and increasing local flexibility in the operation and administration of state-directed programs.
“New York’s counties are in a position to help the Governor help our counties provide more effective and efficient programs at the local level. NYSAC’s county members are telling us they can improve government services and reduce the burden on local taxpayers,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. “What they need from state leaders is more flexibility, fewer mandates and better communication.”
NYSAC’s Key Legislative Priorities include:
- Capping counties’ financial liability for the Pre-school Special Education and Early Intervention programs;
- Fully implementing the local Medicaid cap as part of the Governor’s expanded Medicaid reform effort;
- Holding Counties harmless from retroactive rate increases associated with state training school placements (as a result of failure by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services to annual update their reimbursement rates);
- Reforming the Public Employment Relations Act to support the needs of local taxpayers;
- Reforming state policy for housing State prisoners in local correctional facilities; and
- Pursuing mandate relief measures to reduce fiscal burdens.
The New York State Association of Counties is a bipartisan municipal association serving all 62 counties of New York State including the City of New York. Organized in 1925, NYSAC’s mission is to represent, educate and advocate for Member Counties and the thousands of elected and appointed county officials who serve the public.
###