Feb. 12, 2008

County Executive Andy Spano will head to Albany today to lobby for changes in the Governor’s proposed budget that would promote public safety and help reduce the tax burden on county residents.

Among the areas of concern Spano plans to address with state legislative leaders in meetings today are the growing cost of pre-school special education programs to counties; a proposal in the Governor’s budget to make counties including Westchester pay more towards child and family welfare costs; the need for increased funding to the Regional Emergency Medical Services Council, which provides emergency medical services to nearly 1 million people the fact that Westchester’s public transportation system is not slated to get funding equal to Nassau County, which serves the same number of riders and has the same size transit system. 

“Keeping local property taxes down and keeping residents safe are our key concerns,’’ said Spano. “We are concerned about items in the state budget that shift costs onto local governments as well as deny us the aid that we are entitled to so we can reduce the local property tax burden on our residents,’’ said Spano.    

Transportation Aid       

Of major concern, said Spano, is the fact that Westchester, although it has a transit system that serves 32 million riders, the same as Nassau County, is slated to get $10 million less in STOA or State Transportation Operating Assistance in the 2008-2009 budget than Nassau. Spano said low-income, working people who rely on the county’s Bee-Line bus system cannot afford a fare increase, but neither can taxpayers afford to increase subsidies to the transit system.

Pre-School Special Education Costs

While the Governor’s budget continues a cap on the amount of money counties must pay to support Medicaid, another cap proposed on funding of Preschool Special Education costs does not help to contain costs for Westchester because of the way it is structured. In 2008, that cost is expected to reach $79.8 million. Program costs have risen 252 percent in 11 years.

Westchester is proposing that the state select a different year as the base for Pre-School Special Education costs and ensure that gross expenditures are counted towards the ceiling. The county is also asking for some program changes to be made that will pave the way for an eventual takeover of the program’s administration by the state by 2013 as recommended by the Governor’s task force.

Child Welfare Costs

Child welfare costs, which until now have been split 50/50 with the state, would go up 2 percent for counties under the Governor’s budget. This would add at least $2 million to Westchester’s share of the expenses at a time the country is heading into a recession and more people are expected to need public assistance. At the same time, Westchester will also be expected to pick up the full cost of housing youth in secure detention facilities. In 2008, that is expected to cost Westchester $3.9 million. While the state’s reasoning for this is to get local governments to find alternative placements for these young people, Spano points out that in some cases secure placement is needed for the safety of the community.

Emergency Medical Services Council

Westchester’s success in protecting its residents and revitalizing its emergency medical services has resulted in the need for more support from the state. While Westchester’s Regional Emergency Medical Services Council now serves more than 1 million people it continues to receive the same funding as other area councils who serve only a fraction of that number of people. Westchester’s council currently gets only $140,000 a year, but needs about $250,000 to continue the level of services it provides. Nearly $20,000 of that increased cost is due to an Executive Order from the Governor that now requires webcasting of meetings.

“Westchester recognizes that the Governor is as concerned as we are about holding the line on local property taxes, but this becomes increasingly difficult when costs are shifted to the local level,’’ said Spano. “We hope we can convince state leaders to make some changes that will be beneficial to our residents.’’