Counties in the News January 4, 2017

• By: NYSAC
• On: 01/04/2017 14:15:25
• In: Counties in the News

NYSAC
What is a cost shift? A cost shift is an economic situation where one individual, group, or government underpays for a service, resulting in another individual, group or government overpaying for a service. Or a cost shift is a term used to describe any activity through which costs are shifted from one decision-maker to another.
 
Counties are well aware of what cost shifting means. The state has been shifting costs to counties for more than 50 years.
 
In the 1966, the state shifted the costs of Medicaid and Indigent Legal Defense Services to county property taxpayers. Today county taxes fund $7.5 billion* in state Medicaid costs and more than $164 million in public defense costs.
 
In fact, all of the cost shifts combined cost county taxpayers more than $12 billion a year, when you consider all of the state mandated programs that are underpaid by the state and overpaid by local property taxpayer.
 
*NYC taxpayers fund $3.3 billion in Medicaid costs, county property taxpayers outside of NYC pay $2.2 billion.
 
A NYSAC Retweet: To be clear: Somehow state will figure out how to pay for free tuition, but can't pick up the tab from counties for indigent legal defense? http://bit.ly/2j6IZX7.
 
STATEWIDE
NYSAC Not Happy with Cuomo Veto
 
Cuomo proposes free state college tuition for eligible students
 
HUDSON VALLEY
Borchert gives upbeat “halftime” peptalk on where Dutchess County is going
 
Carlucci says don't grant parole to Brinks robbery accomplice

Westchester Legislators Move Step Closer to Banning Gun Shows
 
CAPITAL
Saratoga County Leaders May Consider New Public Safety Building (Video)
 
NORTH COUNTRY
Local leaders praise Cuomo's free-tuition plan

Cuomo vetoes indigent defense bill
 
Clinton County to organize
 
Assemblyman Billy Jones, members of the Franklin County Legislature sworn in for new terms
 
Essex Co. chair targets EMS, broadband for 2017
 
New chairman, vice-chairman of St. Lawrence County Legislature named
 
Former Jefferson County Real Property director appointed to IDA board
 
Child trafficking a threat in Clinton County, say officials
 
CENTRAL NEW YORK
Tompkins County Legislature Declares 2017 Year of the Woman
 
Onondaga County Legislature Still Down 1 Member for First 2017 Session (Video)
 
FINGER LAKES
Genesee County continues discussion regarding future of Holland Land Office Museum
 
Seneca County supervisors to organize for 2017
 
WESTERN NEW YORK
Erie County Executive Disappointed in Indigent Legal Services Veto
 
New year, new chairman, new matters for Legislature
 
Wyoming County Board of Supervisors reflects on ‘16
 
Rural Outreach Center Challenges Public Figures to Experience Poverty
 
Crisis hotline adds Orleans County