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Friday, February 28, 2020

Counties Urge State Leaders to Reject a $1.5 Billion Grab from Local Taxpayers

Today, county leaders are unanimously calling on State lawmakers to reject a budget proposal that would shift up to $1.5 billion from counties to the state general fund.

The proposal would intercept Enhanced Federal Medicaid monies (eFMAP) worth hundreds of millions of dollars a year to counties and New York City. The eFMAP funding was included in the Affordable Care Act to help all governments that funded the expansion of Medicaid.

“It is abundantly clear that the Federal government intended for a portion of these funds to be directed to local governments to help offset the cost of Medicaid. We are entitled to it,” said New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) President Jack Marren.

NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario said, “This attempt to intercept these funds is in direct opposition to the intent of congress when they passed the Affordable Care Act and that is why counties are urging state lawmakers to reject this proposal from the budget, and the New York State congressional delegation to hold Albany accountable,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario “It is irrational for the state of New York to intercept these funds to solve their budget crisis.”

The counties of New York State contribute nearly $8 billion every year towards the cost of the federal-state Medicaid program, more than all 3,000 counties across the country combined.