|
ALBANY---According to Gov. George E. Pataki, his proposed budget for 2008-07 will include more than $1.1 billion in Medicaid savings -- $775 million for New York City and $391 million for counties across the state. The new savings are a direct result of the local Medicaid cap and acceleration of the state's takeover of costs of the Family Health Plus, which were part of the state budget enacted last year.
Under the new cap enacted by the Governor and Legislature last year, counties and New York City will benefit from a cap on their local share of Medicaid costs equaling 3.5 percent growth beginning in 2006, dropping to 3.25% in 2007, and 3% in 2008. This means that this coming year, counties and New York City will pay no more than 3.5% in additional Medicaid costs, even though Medicaid is projected to grow statewide by 10% this year.
"We proposed and fought to enact these Medicaid reforms so that we could provide real and immediate relief from escalating Medicaid costs to property taxpayers across the State," Gov. Pataki said. "While it will mean additional costs in this upcoming state budget, I'm proud that our budget will deliver on our promise and provide more than $1.1 billion in new Medicaid relief to counties and New York City this year."
The Governor noted that the substantial new savings being provided to counties and New York City this year gives localities a real opportunity to reduce their spending on Medicaid - a program that for years local officials have said is a direct cause of annual property tax increases. This year, the Governor said, local governments should dedicate these new savings to reducing property taxes and/or meeting other critical local needs.
"Our new Medicaid reforms will dramatically rein in what was one of the fastest growing fiscal responsibilities for counties and New York City by providing immediate and significant relief from Medicaid costs," the Governor added. "I would urge local leaders to use these funds to offer county property tax relief -- and in New York City to invest the City's $775 million in new savings into the City's schools."
The Legislature enacted Governor Pataki's proposals to cap local Medicaid costs virtually unchanged in last year's final state budget. The Governor worked closely with Legislative leaders and the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) to ensure its speedy and successful approval.
Below is a county-by-county and New York City breakout of the new Medicaid savings that will be included in the Governor's Executive Budget. 01-13-06
Local Fiscal Relief
Cap & FHP
| County | 2006-07
SAVINGS
|
|---|
| Albany | $8,985,000 |
|---|
| Allegany | $2,403,000 |
|---|
| Broome | $8,503,000 |
|---|
| Cattaraugus | $4,119,000 |
|---|
| Cayuga | $3,458,000 |
|---|
| Chautauqua | $6,584,000 |
|---|
| Chemung | $4,074,000 |
|---|
| Chenago | $2,643,000 |
|
|---|
| Clinton | $4,081,000 |
|
|---|
| Columbia | $2,037,000 |
|
|---|
| Cortland | $2,496,000 |
|
|---|
| Delaware | $2,011,000 |
|
|---|
| Dutchess | $7,148,000 |
|
|---|
| Erie | $30,614,000 |
|
|---|
| Essex | $1,942,000 |
|
|---|
| Franklin | $2,257,000 |
|
|---|
| Fulton | $3,144,000 |
|
|---|
| Genesee | $2,616,000 |
|
|---|
| Greene | $2,274,000 |
|
|---|
| Hamilton | $115,000 |
|
|---|
| Herkimer | $3,268,000 |
|
|---|
| Jefferson | $4,533,000 |
|
|---|
| Lewis | $1,573,000 |
|
|---|
| Livingston | $2,399,000 |
|
|---|
| Madison | $3,005,000 |
|
|---|
| Monroe | $29,534,000 |
|
|---|
| Montgomery | $2,517,000 |
|
|---|
| Nassau | $35,764,000 |
|
|---|
| Niagra | $8,887,000 |
|
|---|
| Oneida | $11,156,000 |
|
|---|
| Onondaga | $18,159,000 |
|
|---|
| Ontario | $3,524,000 |
|
|---|
| Orange | $12,994,000 |
|
|---|
| Orleans | $2,282,000 |
|
|---|
| Oswego | $6,899,000 |
|
|---|
| Otsego | $2,718,000 |
|
|---|
| Putnam | $1,493,000 |
|
|---|
| Rensselaer | $3,928,000 |
|
|---|
| Rockland | $12,312,000 |
|
|---|
| St. Lawrence | $5,604,000 |
|
|---|
| Saratoga | $6,052,000 |
|
|---|
| Schenectady | $5,370,000 |
|
|---|
| Schoharie | $1,347,000 |
|
|---|
| Schuyler | $1,058,000 |
|
|---|
| Seneca | $1,367,000 |
|
|---|
| Steuben | $4,933,000 |
|
|---|
| Suffolk | $42,199,000 |
|
|---|
| Sullivan | $4,402,000 |
|
|---|
| Tioga | $2,058,000 |
|
|---|
| Tompkins | $2,693,000 |
|
|---|
| Ulster | $4,870,000 |
|
|---|
| Warren | $3,449,000 |
|
|---|
| Washington | $2,841,000 |
|
|---|
| Wayne | $3,689,000 |
|
|---|
| Westchester | $28,331,000 |
|
|---|
| Wyoming | $1,520,000 |
|
|---|
| Yates | $1,164,000 |
|
|---|
| Rest Of State | $391,396,000 |
|
|---|
| New York City | $774,647,000 |
|
|---|
| New York State | $1,166,043,000 |
|
|---|
© 2005 North
Country Gazette
|
