CATTARAUGUS COUNTY
Departments are facing major cuts, legislators told
LITTLE VALLEY — Ten Cattaraugus County government departments are in line for significant reductions in state funding under Gov. David A. Paterson’s proposed budget cuts, according to an analysis provided to county lawmakers Wednesday by County Administrator Jack Searles.
Searles said the projections could run to $3.9 million in the period that begins with the start of the state’s fiscal year in April and ending in December. But it could increase by almost another $1 million by the end of next March due to possible losses in state funding.
“It’s subject to modification” by the state lawmakers, said Searles, who noted that at this stage it is difficult to quantify the dollar amounts in each of the county’s departments.
The county’s nursing homes could take the biggest hit, as high as $3.1 million according to the analysis, because the Olean and Machias facilities will be affected to some extent by possible Medicaid rate changes. Another big loser would be the Health Department, which could see the elimination of as much as $254,685 in funding and aid because of Medicaid rate reductions proposed for long-term and home care and aid reductions proposed for emergency medical services.
Also, the county could see a 25 percent reduction in allocations for youth programs, such as those run by municipalities, juvenile officers, youth bureaus and other programs, totaling about $62,000.
Among other county departments that could be affected by potential cuts in the analysis are the Probation Department, with a possible 6 percent reduction in some aid, at $402,579; the Public Works Department, with a loss of CHIPS funding, at $350,150; Social Services, elimination of some administrative aid and preventive service funding, at $726,858; Sheriff’s Office, potential elimination of funding to house inmates awaiting transfer to state facilities, at $146,666; Department of Aging, with some local aid cuts totaling about $47,412; and Community Services cuts for mental health and other services, of about $80,000.
In addition, the county faces unknown impacts from the statewide closings of inpatient alcohol treatment and other services.
Offsetting the cuts is a savings of about $156,930 in preschool special education, along with the increase in motor vehicle registration fees and the county’s ability to keep a portion of motor vehicle transaction fees, for a possible $180,000 revenue hike.
Searles draws the projections for the legislators each year as budget talks heat up in Albany, but the economy and the state’s budget deficits are of particular concern at this time.
He said he hopes the outline will provide legislators an advocacy tool to play a role in the state budget negotiations. Last fall during the county budget preparations, Finance Committee Chairman Michael T. O’Brien, R-Portville, asked department heads to pen “white papers” describing various programs that are supported by state and federal aid.
Searles said these documents will help determine how the county’s finances can be adjusted quickly to maintain vital programs. Searles said he asked the county’s leadership to think about how they will handle the need for program modifications in the hardest-hit areas.
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