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When County Executive Kathy Jimino presented her proposed 2012 County Budget, she once again called upon the Governor and State Legislature to "Stop Mandates Now" and bring real tax relief by addressing the State's unfunded mandates that have driven local taxes in New York State to the highest in the nation. Here in Rensselaer County, 90 cents of every tax dollar collected are used to fund state mandated programs that the county has no control over.
During her address Jimino pointed to the recent New York State Association of Counties report that cited the nine state mandated programs that consume 90% of the local property tax levies of counties outside of New York City and amount to $4 billion each year. “To fund these nine mandated costs,” Jimino stated, “Rensselaer County, with a current property tax levy of $57.3 million, is forced by law to pay the state 112% of this total tax levy which amounts to $63.3 million in local taxpayer dollars.”
View the New York State Association of Counties report "State Programs Funded By County Property Taxes"
For 2011 the top 9 state mandated programs include and their cost to Rensselaer County taxpayers include;
Mandated Program and Cost to Rensselaer County Taxpayer
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Medicaid |
$30,609,967 |
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Public Assistance/Safety Net |
$2,767,974 |
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Child Welfare Protection And Prevention |
$12,671,916 |
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Preschool Special Education |
$5,391,599 |
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Early Intervention |
$1,349,867 |
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Probation |
$4,115,733 |
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Indigent Defense |
$1,565,217 |
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Youth Detention |
$277,800 |
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Pensions |
$5,500,000 |
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Over the last 5 years spending on local services has decreased by 11% while state mandated spending has increased by a whopping 54%!
 
To fund State mandates and live within the 2% tax cap law passed by new york state Jimino’s budget calls for a further reduction in spending on local service.
As of December 31, 2012 if there is not meaningful mandate reform in place either by state legislation or regulation, funding for the following programs that are not mandated by the State will be reduced from the 2012 levels with services adjusted commensurately:
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Aging Services home delivered meals will be reduced from five days per week to four days per week; medical transportation will be reduced; the senior center in Rensselaer will be closed; |
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Cornell Cooperative Extension subsidy will be reduced; |
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Planning funding for economic development staff will be reduced; |
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Public Safety funding for training and future planning is reduced and funding for a replacement vehicle for the Fire Coordinator is eliminated; |
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Sheriff’s Department funding will be reduced, the specifics to be determined by the Sheriff as a separately elected official; |
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Soil and Water subsidy will be reduced; |
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Van Rensselaer Manor security, housekeeping and laundry services currently staffed with county employees will be considered for outsourcing, a practice that is currently being exercised in the pharmacy department; |
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Veterans’ transportation services will be reduced from two to one van per day. |
In order to prevent further loss of local services Mandate Relief is Needed Now. Please contact the Governor and your state legislator and urge them to “Stop the Mandates” to preserve local services and cut property taxes!!
Mandate Relief Contact Form
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