Archive: Opinions

Since I last reported to the Town Board on the issue of unfunded state mandates, their impact on Tompkins County's budget and their relationship to the proposed property tax cap, we (members of the Tompkins County Legislature) have met with each of our newly elected state officials. Discussion of the need for mandate relief in conjunction with the passage of a property tax cap was high on our list of agenda items. Additionally, NYSAC (New York State Association of Counties) has been very active in carrying the message to elected officials across NY State and in Albany.

State mandates consume 90% of the $4.4 billion in property taxes collected statewide. Counties have long served as the State's partner in administering programs in areas such as health and human services, but over time the State has required that more and more of those programs be paid for through local property taxes rather than through the income tax revenues available to the State. Since property taxes are much more regressive (are not connected to a person's ability to pay) than the more progressive income tax (intended to increase as a person's income increases) the unfairness of relying on County funding rather than State funding for these programs has increased over time. Additionally, the programs themselves have expanded to the point that New York's entitlement programs are, in general, much more expensive than most other states.

It now appears that the Governor has heard the message that a property tax cap must be accompanied by fundamental changes in the way programs that are required by the State are funded and that the needed change cannot be accomplished simply by capping the payments required by the current system. In Tompkins County's 2011 budget 5% of the increase is needed just to pay for mandates. Just less than 1% (.9%) is being used to fund local programs. Despite rapidly increasing mandated costs, such as for pensions, Medicaid, and other health/human services programs, we cut the County budget by $2,000,000 and reduced our workforce by 26 positions for 2011. We will do even more this year to reduce spending in 2012 and assure that every dollar is well spent.

It is encouraging that the Governor has established both a Medicaid Redesign Team and a Mandate Relief Redesign Team, both of which are scheduled to report back in time for their recommendations to be considered for the 2012 State budget. However, I remain concerned that while support for a tax cap is strong, support for mandate relief and fundamental change is less strong...perhaps even weak. We, both elected officials and residents across the state, must continue to stand firm in our message to our Albany representatives and to our new Governor that fundamental change and mandate relief must accompany a tax cap.

Thanks to each of you who has expressed support to me for the County's efforts to reduce its budget and to seek fundamental reform in mandated programs. Please continue to keep in touch with your suggestions and ideas and let me know if you contact State Legislators directly. I'd like to hear what their response is to you. I can be contacted at 607-319-0507 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. regarding this or any other issue. I'd also be happy to add you to the email list of residents to whom I send messages of interest regarding County issues. Just drop me an email and ask to be added to the list. I'll continue to keep you posted as the work progresses.

Pat Pryor
Legislator, District 6
Tompkins County Legislature

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