BATH – Steuben County legislators are expected to call on Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature to keep the zero percent Medicaid increase in place when they meet in a historic session at 10 a.m. Monday. The zero percent Medicaid increase was put in place in 2012 by Cuomo and enables counties to keep pace with the growing cost of many vital state programs and services, while continuing local quality of life services demanded by taxpayers. However, in an effort to offset the state’s looming $6.1 billion 2020 budget deficit, Cuomo plans to renege on his actions eight years ago, taking over the federal funding Steuben County is entitled to and imposing severe penalties if the county exceeds the state’s property tax cap. Yet the state’s deficit is caused entirely by excessive Medicaid spending put in place by the state in recent years while the county has virtually no control over the services. The result is – unless the state maintains the 2012 zero Medicaid cap put in place by Cuomo – Steuben taxpayers face a punitive increase in state mandated costs of up to $4 million next year and a sharp increase in property taxes. It has been a tumultuous month in Steuben, marked by the Governor's plan early this month and compounded by the economic and social impact of the COVID virus. That impact includes Monday’s meeting of the county Legislature -- the first time county legislators have met in a regular session through a teleconference. The teleconference will allow legislators to publicly weigh in on timely issues while the County Office Complex only remains open to scheduled appointments. The complex’s restrictions are "social distancing" safeguards against the spread of COVID 19. The public and media will be able to listen in on the meeting as it happens. Details on how the public and media are invited to the teleconference will follow below copy, and may be found on the county website at https://www.steubencony.org/ under calendar events. Other agenda items Monday include:
• Authorizing the Steuben County Legislature to conduct committee and full board meetings by teleconference during the COVID-19 State(s) of Emergency.
• Authorizing the Steuben County Legislature to conduct committee and full board meetings by teleconference during the COVID-19 State(s) of Emergency.
- • Accepting Census Outreach Grant of $180,910
- • Authorizing the transfer and appropriation of funds to the County Route 119 Over the Canisteo River Federal-Aid Bridge Project Account.
- • Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Works to Enter into an Inter-Municipal Agreement with the Town of Hornellsville.
- • Authorizing the creation of one Part-Time Assistant District Attorney position in the District Attorney’s office.
- • Declaring April as Donate Life Month.
