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State Senate and Assembly budgets respond to county concerns
For Immediate Release: March 14, 2008
The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) today commended the State Senate and Assembly for addressing county concerns in their respective one-house budget initiatives.
The 2008-09 Executive State Budget proposed two substantial cost shifts that would cost counties and the City of New York at least $27.5 million in the current budget year and $50 million in the next from an increased share of welfare expenses and the full cost of local youth detention facilities.
“County officials from across the state demonstrated their opposition to these cost shifts and their Senators and Assembly representatives have responded. The budget measures, passed this week, demonstrate their commitment to counties and county property taxpayers,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario.
Both the Senate and Assembly one-house budgets fully reject the proposal to eliminate state reimbursement for local juvenile detention. In addition, both houses partially restore shifts to county property taxpayers for welfare expenditures.
“County officials from across the state strongly believe, as a matter of principle and public policy, that county property taxpayers should not bear the greater burden of the state’s welfare program,” said Acquario.
The Senate and Assembly will meet in joint budget conference committees beginning next week to negotiate the final details of the 2008-09 State Budget, which will take effect on April 1, 2008.
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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