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County Executives to State Leaders: Cut Spending, Don't Shift Costs to Property Taxpayers
November 6, 2008
County Leaders Call for State Spending Cuts, Not Cost Shifts to Property Taxes
Officials put forth $1 billion in cuts that would not increase taxes for homeowners and businesses
With Election Day over and a record State budget deficit looming, a statewide bipartisan group of county chief executives, responsible for the day to day management of state services delivered locally, today recommended State spending cuts for November 18th, when State Lawmakers will reconvene in a Special Session called to reduce current year state spending by $2 billion.
In a statewide press conference conducted from Albany, the chief executives noted the proposals will provide long term state and local savings without shifting costs to counties and property taxpayers.
“Our counties are not looking for more State money or for additional taxing authority, we are calling for State spending to reflect the reality of available revenues, not to be shifted from the State budget to the property tax,” said Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks.
Twice this year, counties received across-the-board reductions in state reimbursement for programs and services delivered at the local level, effectively shifting more of the cost of these programs on to county property taxpayers.
“When State funding for these mandated programs and services is reduced, the costs are simply shifted from the state budget to the county property tax bill,” said NYSAC President Sarah Purdy, the Yates County administrator. “We are saying no more passing the costs down to counties and property taxpayers.”
“This economic crisis presents us with an unprecedented opportunity to reform the way we do business in New York State. We can forever restructure the state mandate system that has led to the highest property taxes in the nation,” said Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, the president of the New York State County Executives Association, which hosted today’s conference call.
The 16 county executives sent a letter to Governor David Paterson and legislative leaders calling for two things: 1. a commitment to balance the budget without shifting costs to property taxpaying homeowners and businesses, and 2. to reduce state spending to match corresponding revenue, instead of shifting costs to the county level.
“We believe the State can significantly reduce spending without cost shifting to counties and offer specific recommendations that would generate substantial and recurring budget savings,” said Levy.
To help lawmakers reduce State budget spending, the county leaders detailed proposed cuts of more than $1 billion that would not raise property taxes. That proposal includes:
- Reducing or eliminating non-mandated aid to localities programs, particularly those listed as not critical to the core missions of state agencies,
- Reforming NYSHIP payments, and returning overpayments to participating agents,
- Reforming early intervention funding, to ensure that third party insurance companies cover the costs for which they are legally responsible, and
- Reforming the Preschool Special Education Reform, to reduce the cost and improve the overall effectiveness of the program.
“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 New York State County Executives Association.
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.
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