Politics on the Hudson

   As we get closer to Tuesday’s special legislative session on reducing the state’s $121.3 billion budget, the pace of messages is increasing from groups that don’t want their members included in the $1 billion proposed cuts. Gov. David Paterson called the session because of the effect the weakening economy is having the state’s tax collections.  

   The New York State Association of Counties sent out a statement this morning urging state leaders to distinguish between funding cuts and “simple cost shifting by the state to the counties for delivering state-mandated services.”

   “The difference could spell property tax increases for New York’s overburdened homeowners and businesses,” NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario cautioned.

   Among the “menu” of potential cuts announced by Paterson are a 6 percent reduction in local-assistance general-fund spending, which would total $250 million.

 ”Let’s be clear here. They are not cutting aid to counties, they are cutting the reimbursements for programs that county governments are required-by state statute-to deliver. We still have to spend taxpayer money to deliver the state’s programs, the difference is that we just have less of the state’s funding to pay for it,” Acquario said in a statement.

   “If we are going to make the hard choices to address the current economic situation, then we need to reduce state programs and services, not simply shift more costs to property taxpayers,” he said.