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WESTCHESTER, N.Y. Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino said that mandate relief measures proposed by the governor are insufficient to help the county, stressing the county needs immediate relief.
The good news is that the Governor has pinpointed some of the most critical problems plaguing counties, towns, villages and school districts, said Jessica Proud, a spokesperson for Astorino. The problem [is] that the focus is long-term and solutions are needed right now. In the case of Westchester County, we have a 2 percent cap on taxes, but Albany is sending us a bill that increases spending by 5 percent. Without help from Albany, the result is going to be that local services are going to get crowded out.
Cuomos plan for mandate relief addresses Medicaid, Early Intervention Programs and reforms the pension plan, if passed in its current form.
The Executive Budget would gradually cap county contributions to Medicaid. Currently the state pays for all increases over 3 percent. Over the course of three years the state would foot the bill for all increases in Medicaid, phasing 1 percent out each year.
The governors budget hopes to cut the administrative burdens of the Early Intervention Program by $99 million over five years, and reform preschool special education costs for counties outside of New York City by $150 million over five years. The Executive Budget does not include any cuts to Early Intervention or preschool special education services.
Astorino said that even with these proposals, the current 2012-2013 Executive Budget would cost the county an additional $25.9 million next year. Medicaid would increase by $4.3 million, pensions will increase by $22.6 million, and Early Intervention and preschool will decrease by $1 million. The increase of $25.9 million is equivalent to a 5 percent tax levy increase. A 2 percent tax levy increase would only be $11 million, from a $548 million budget.
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