PRESS RELEASE
February 12, 2008

Legislature States Strong Opposition to State Budget

A series of resolutions voicing strong opposition to Governor Spitzer’s proposed 2008-2009 state budget were approved at the February 12 legislative meeting of the Rensselaer County Legislature.

Legislators also voiced concerned that a new series of revisions by Governor Spitzer to his proposal will even worsen the impact of the state budget plan on local taxpayers, counties and school districts.

County budget officials estimate reductions in state aid, shifts in mandates and changes in reimbursement formulas will cost the county more than $4 million, translating to an 8 percent property tax increase. The negative impacts of the state budget come at a time when 89 cents out of every county tax dollar goes to pay for mandated expenses, based on information provided by state budget officials.

County officials believe the shift in costs is being done to pay for the expansion of state programs. Governor Spitzer’s proposed budget also did not include any additional state aid for the state mandated expansion of the county jail, a project that will cost the county more than $50 million.

“This is our effort to get the attention of Governor Spitzer and state officials that we cannot afford any more mandates and cannot afford any more cuts in state aid. The state is shifting more and more costs onto the backs of county taxpayers, and that is wrong,” said Chairman of the Legislature Neil J. Kelleher.

“We have said it before, and it deserves repeating: If New York State helped reduced the mandate burden, we would be in a position to reduce county property taxes. The Spitzer budget is bad for local taxpayers and school districts,” said Legislator Martin Reid.

The six resolutions included:

- A resolution opposing the proposed 2008-2009 state budget because of the    increases in state mandates

- A resolution opposing the 46 fee increases included in Governor Spitzer’s proposed state budget

- A resolution opposing a $330,000 reduction in juvenile detention programs

- A resolution opposing a $250,000 reduction in state-mandated welfare programs provided by the county

- A resolution opposing a $1.25 million reduction in state reimbursement for      operation of the Van Rensselaer Manor nursing home

- A resolution opposing the planned closure of the Mt. McGregor and Hudson    medium-security state prisons. Legislators say it is unfair for the state to     require the county to expand their facility at a time when the state is reducing their prison space, a move that could result in costly overcrowding in county facilities in the coming years.

The resolutions were all approved despite a concerted effort by legislative Democrats to amend the resolutions and deflect attention from Spitzer’s role in the budget process. Majority legislators countered by saying it was entirely fair to focus the requests on Spitzer because he authored the spending plan.

“What is unfortunate is that Democrats seemed more concerned with defending their party’s governor than in standing up for the taxpayers of Rensselaer County,” said Majority Leader Robert Mirch.

“We are especially concerned because the revisions announced this week by the governor to his budget proposal are likely to make things worse for counties. All legislators need to stand up and take action,” added Vice Chairman of the Legislature Thomas Walsh Sr.

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