PRESS RELEASE
January 29, 2008

Resolutions by Legislators Take Stand Against State Budget

A series of resolutions filed by the majority of the Rensselaer County Legislature take a stand against Governor Spitzer’s proposed 2008-2009 state budget, noting the proposal does not reform costly state mandates and includes 46 different fee increases.

The state budget proposal would also cost the county $4.1 million in mandate increases and reductions in reimbursements and could translate into an 8.3 percent property tax increase for county taxpayers. The new shift in costs comes at a time when 89 cents out of every county tax dollar goes to pay for mandates.

Six resolutions opposing aspects of the proposed state budget were introduced Tuesday. The same day, County Executive Kathleen Jimino and Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano, a Democrat, spoke out against aspects of the state budget proposal at the New York Association of Counties meeting in Colonie.

“We are hopeful that our action convinces the governor to go back to the drawing board and come up with a spending plan that protects local taxpayers and does not include massive shifts in costs to counties and school districts,” said Chairman of the Legislature Neil J. Kelleher. Other county officials from central New York were also critical of the spending plan.      

“Counties are looking for mandate relief. The governor’s new budget goes in the opposite direction, raising costs for counties and local taxpayers,” added Legislator Martin Reid.

The six resolutions filed for consideration at the February 12 legislative meeting include a resolution opposing the budget proposal, a resolution opposing the 46 fee increases, a resolution opposing reduction of state reimbursement for juvenile detention programs, a resolution opposing reduction of reimbursement for state-mandated welfare programs, a resolution opposing reduction of state aid for operation of the Van Rensselaer Manor nursing home, and a resolution opposing closure of the Mt. McGregor and Hudson medium-security state prisons.

The nursing home reduction would cost about $1.25 million, the reduction for juvenile detention $300,000 and a $250,000 reduction in reimbursement for state-mandated welfare programs, among other cost shifts and reimbursement reductions.

“We are hoping that we get unanimous votes on each and every one of these resolutions so we can send a strong and united message to Governor Spitzer that counties, school districts and local taxpayers deserve some fairness,” said Majority Leader Robert Mirch.

Legislators are concerned about the planned closure of the two state prisons because it comes at a time when Rensselaer County is being asked to expand the county jail at a cost of more than $50 million. Increasing capacity in county facilities when the state is reducing its expansion could lead to expensive shifts in the prisoner population.

“Counties have had problems in the past with the state not removing state-ready inmates. We are worried about that scenario playing out again,” said Vice Chairman of the Legislature Thomas Walsh Sr., co-chair of the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee.

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