State makes cuts to budget


 


HARLEM VALLEY — On Wednesday, Aug. 20, Governor David Paterson came to an agreement with the Legislature to enact a $1 billion-plus, two-year savings plan.

The plan includes cuts to save $400 million in the 2008-09 budget and $600 million in 2009-10.

"Too often in the past, our state’s failure to respond quickly to fiscal crises has only made our budget problems worse and the solutions we’ve had to implement more painful," Paterson stated in a press release. "Today, we are taking a different approach. Rather than simply hoping that our struggling economy improves, all sides worked together in the spirit of cooperation and took action to reduce spending."

Part of the cuts will include a 6 percent reduction in state aid for a variety of services.

"The cuts will have to do with programs that the state funds that are not mandated, but where the state is a partner," Assemblyman Marc Molinaro said. "It could be private day care and possibly specialized programming for local libraries. We did identify $117 million in health care savings by slowing down the rate of growth for certain Medicaid services. Slowing the rate of growth in those programs does not mean someone needing assistance isn’t going to get it."

Sheriff’s deputy and Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office spokesman T.J. Hanlon said the department will lose funding as part of the cuts.

"I can’t comment on how much the amount is because we haven’t seen it yet," Hanlon said. "The important thing to understand is that, while the state has important budgetary problems, cutting back on critical services will not be the answer to solving those problems."

Hanlon said he did not know what the full effect of the cuts will be to the department.

"However, I want to emphasize that residents should not be worried because we will stick with our mandate and protect the residents of Dutchess County and the vicinity," Hanlon said. "They should not be worried. Absolutely not."

As for any possible reduction of direct aid to localities, Molinaro said there would not be any.

"An argument was made [during the budget debate] that cost shifting is not cost savings," Molinaro said. "To shift the burden to local tax payers is not acceptable. We need to start by getting our own house and state government in order. Municipal governments need not be worried. The senate will continue with their efforts to reign in state spending."

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