Joining Chemung County Executive Tom Santulli in pushing for mandate relief for counties, the Chemung County Legislature passed a resolution demanding mandate relief in the 2012 legislative session.
May 29th was declared “Mayday for Mandate Relief Day” in Chemung County. With less than four weeks left in the NYS legislative session, counties across the state have passed similar resolutions. Santulli and Chemung County Legislative Chair Donna Draxler want to keep the pressure on the Legislature until the end of the session.
In Chemung County, the nine unfunded mandates which statewide consume 90 percent of all property taxes collected actually account for 135 percent of Chemung County’s property tax levy plus 24 percent of the sales tax receitps. The nine state mandates include: Medicaid, Public Assistance and Safety Net, Child Welfare, Special Education, Pre-K, Indigent Defense, Probation, Early Intervention, Youth Detention, and Pensions.
Legislative Chair Draxler announced the beginning of a petition drive that is being conducted by County Legislators for the next two weeks. Draxler said Legislators will take to the streets with the petitions for residents to sign which will be forwarded to our representatives in Albany. The petitions will be available at most town halls.
Legislator Rodney J. Strange said, “the unfunded madates are going to cripple our county in the future if Albany doesn’t provide the relief neccesary to fund these services that Albany makes counties provide. The state needs to take over the local share of Medicaid costs. I urge all county residents to sign the petition and send a message to state lawmakers and the Governor.”