March 13, 2007

WESTCHESTER COUNTY BOARD APPROVES
2007 STATE LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE
---County asks state reps to focus on easing property
tax burden imposed by unfunded mandates---

Contact: Steve Bass, Legislation Committee Coordinator
(914) 995-5482; SteveB@westchesterlegislators.com

After spending two months preparing and debating it, Westchester’s legislature last night approved the County’s State Legislative Package, an annual wish list of critical measures it wants Albany to enact. The 13-item Package will be taken to the capitol today where it will be formally presented to Westchester’s State representatives.

This year’s Package emphasizes items that would reform how the State funds its major social and education programs. In particular, the County is asking its State representatives to rein in the unfunded mandates that have caused local property taxes to increase.

“We’re looking to cooperate with the State in providing more funding for its programs that would assist the County in lowering its tax levy,” said County Legislator Vito Pinto, Chair of the Board’s Legislation Committee that worked with the County Executive’s office to hone down the initial list of 70 items and come to consensus on the most critical issues. “Our major focus is on keeping property taxes stable. To do that, we need a dependable revenue base, predictable costs and more efficient, well-managed and contained state programs.”

Property Tax Relief

To provide property tax relief and reduce the drain on local coffers, the County is asking for a continuation of the Medicaid cap instituted in the last legislative session. The cap limits the growth in a County’s annual share of costs to a reasonable rate.

The County has also asked that the State limit County property taxpayer liability for the pre-school education (Pre-K) program, which Pinto said “is showing the unbridled growth reminiscent of Medicaid.” The County cost for the Pre-K program has tripled in the last ten years, from $25.9 million in1997 to an estimated $83.1 million in the coming year. Additionally, the County has asked for improvements in the way it recoups insurance monies for the Early Intervention Program which has witnessed a 700% increase in the first thirteen years of its existence.

“And we want the State to assume the financial burden for its prisoners and parole violators being held in County jails,” Pinto noted. “These state inmates represent about 5% of the County’s total inmate population and account for approximately $618,000 annually in health expenses borne by County taxpayers.”

To save taxpayers needless costs, the County is requesting that the State Legislature change the Wicks Law which requires multiple contracts on municipal government projects of $50,000 or more. Pinto said a recent study estimated that the Wicks Law increases the cost of construction contracts by 15-25%, and increases the time it takes to complete projects by up to 60%.

The Package contains a request that the state extend the County’s authority to collect a 1.5% sales tax. This was the only item that did not have unanimous backing but was approved as part of the package in a separate 13-3 vote.

“Unlike the state and New York City which collect income taxes, the County and local municipalities and school districts have limited options to collect revenue,” said Pinto. “Proceeds from the sales tax have been an important alternate source of revenue for almost 16 years now for local government, local schools, local services and programs.” He said that last year the 1.5% sales tax provided revenues of $80 million to the county, $69.5 million to municipalities and $26 million to school districts for a total of $175 million.

Additional Elements of the Legislative Package include:

• Restoring the County’s ability to be reimbursed by the state for non-resident tuition for the Fashion Institute of Technology which would save taxpayers approximately $1.7 million annually;
• Increasing the annual funding to the Westchester Regional Emergency Medical Services Council (REMSCO) Program Agency from $140,000 to $250,000 in the 2007-08 state budget;
• Amending the social services law to allow for a demonstration project implementing a dual track child protective services system;
• Calling upon the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) to permit smart meters and real time pricing as a way to lower the cost of electric bills and increase energy usage efficiency;
• Enacting a civil commitment law to provide a mechanism whereby sexually violent offenders who are likely to engage in repeated acts of sexual violence be placed in a secure facility in lieu of release into the community;
• Requiring that a violent predator or a level three sex offender register an address with a local law enforcement agency within 30, rather than 90, days;
• Tracking employment information of Medicaid recipients and analyzing the cost to taxpayers of this health care subsidy to businesses;
• Tightening licensing requirements for young drivers;
• Suspending liquor and lottery licenses of businesses in violation of selling alcohol to persons under 21 years of age.
  

Click here for the legislative package in its entirety.