The Erie County Legislature’s Majority Caucus applauds the New York State Senate for approving a bill that requires the state to fund any new mandate it imposes on local governments and schools and passed a resolution calling on the Assembly to approve the corresponding bill.

In a county resolution approved 11-0 at the June 9, 2016 session, the Erie County Legislature requests that the Assembly will support the bill to relieve the counties from future burden.

“The county’s annual budget is almost entirely dictated by State mandates. A very small percentage of the budget is actually within our control, which is incredibly frustrating for local governments and of course taxpayers. If the State is going to mandate a program that costs money, the State should pay for it and not force the responsibility onto counties,” said Chairman John Mills.

The resolution was sponsored by Chairman Mills, Majority Leader Joseph Lorigo, Legislator Lynne Dixon, Legislator Kevin Hardwick, Legislator Ted Morton and Legislator Edward Rath.

According to a statement from the New York State Association of Counties, “In 2015, nine state mandates consumed 99 percent of the property taxes levied by counties outside of New York City. For just one program— Medicaid—counties spend $7.4 billion annually, which is more than local governments in any other state contribute to their state's fiscal plan."

Legislator Rath noted that because of the current unfunded mandates, counties are suffocated by these escalating costs.

“The Majority Caucus has been working extremely hard the past few years to stop tax increases and even lower the tax rate. However, we are facing a mountain of State mandates and there is only so much we can do at the local level to bring much-needed cost relief to taxpayers. A requirement that State initiatives be paid for by the State would be long overdue step forward for our county,” said Legislator Rath.