Counties slam state spending plan
By BRYAN F. YURCAN

 

A dozen county executives and others representing the interests of New York’s counties voiced concern and anger over the state’s proposed budget plans.

During a conference call with reporters throughout the state on Friday, the assembled executives said the state government is proposing to decrease the amount of money it contributes to counties to help pay for state-mandated programs.

Further, the state is billing the budget as cost-cutting, when it is actually cost-shifting, according to the executives.

“The state has been slowly and quietly passing the cost (of state programs) down to us over the years,” said Westchester County Executive Andy Spano. “This is really a charade. This whole thing is ridiculous.”

Executives voiced their concerns on a number of proposals the state has discussed, including reducing the amount it contributed to welfare programs.

Currently, there is a 50-50 county/state split in paying for the cost of welfare programs, and the state is proposing to reduce it’s commitment to 48 percent.

“The state is proposing not a cut in their programs, but cutting how much they contribute to those programs,” said Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi. “Someone’s going to continue to pay the bill.”

Suozzi, who is heading a commission to study property taxation in the state, said New York residents pay the highest local taxes in the country, about 79 percent more than the national average.

Rockland County Executive Scott Vanderhoef called the state’s plans “galling” because paying for state mandates already takes up 70 percent to 80 percent of a typical county budget.

“By simply shifting the cost back to us, we’ll have to cut discretionary programs,” he said.
He said Rockland stands to lose $1.5 million in public health funds to fill the gaps created by less state money.

Dutchess County Executive William Steinhaus echoed that sentiment, saying Dutchess will have to choose between raising property taxes even more or cutting discretionary and optional services.

“That includes maintenance on highways, parks, services for seniors, and for children,” he said. “This is an example of the state adopting mandates and handing the tax bills for those mandates to counties.”

He said new costs that could be incurred from additional programs the state is adopting this year could cost Dutchess and additional $5 million to $7 million.

Orange County similarly reported an additional cost of $1.6 million, and Putnam County residents could see a 20 percent tax increase.

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