White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Bradley Intros Medicaid Cap; Says Cty Prop Tax Hike Eased By Deductibility

WPCNR Afternoon Tribune. By John F. Bailey. February 11, 2003: UPDATED WITH CORRECTIONS, February 12, 2003 Adam Bradley announced to WPCNR Tuesday that he is very “sensitive” to Westchester County’s argument that state Medicaid mandates increase county costs and has introduced a bill today to “cap” all New York State counties at last year’s Medicaid spending level. “This will force the state to look more closely at the need to increase Medicaid,they will be required to pay for the increased mandated costs,” Bradley said.

Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley also told WPCNR today that Westchester County legislators have overstated the impact of the possibilities of an increased county property tax. This direction is reportedly being considered Tuesday by the County Legislature . Bradley said, any increase in the property tax is tax deductible on New York State and Federal Income Tax returns, reducing any increase by as much as one-third so in his view, any increase is only 1/3 of the stated amounts of increases.

These increases range, by WPCNR's estimate from $104 per $1,000 Accessed Valuation in White Plains (for an $18,000 accessed home with a county-estimated 14.8% property tax increase)), to as much as over $400 per $1,000 in a typical bedroom community like Hastings.)

Challenged in Senate.

WPCNR asked what chances his Medicaid bill had of being passed by the Republican-controlled New York State Senate, Mr. Bradley said he was working with Senators to introduce the legislation.

Bradley said the bill would transfer the burden to the state for all increase in state-mandated Medicaid payments, in future years, capping the county’s shares at the 2002 level if the bill were passed this year. In Westchester County, the county pays 50% of state Medicaid costs, the state, the other 50%, and the Federal Government the remaining 50%. The bill if passed would keep Westchester County at the 2002 level of spending for the current year, providing, Bradley said budget pressure relief for the county.

WPCNR asked if this was too little, too late, in that the Assembly delegation from Westchester refused to sponsor an increase in the 1% sales tax. Bradley said rhetorically, “does that mean we should do nothing, I am committed to working with the county to providing other ways to relieve these budget pressures.”

WPCNR asked what measures were forthcoming, and Bradley said he and the rest of the delegation were "committed to looking into more gap-closing measures for the county." He also said that he would be concentrating on working to restore some of the cuts in education another area of great concern.

Medicaid Bill Combats “Great Tax Shift.”

Mr. Bradley said “Governor George Pataki campaigns as a tax-cutter, but what he has really done is preside over The Great Tax Shift, passing tax increases deguised as mandates, that counties have to pass along to localities and school districts have to pass along in the form of property taxes and sales taxes, the most regressive forms of taxation.” Bradley characterized this as a taxation mistake.

Bradley added that he did not feel that Westchester County had made the right choices in how to cut the County budget without the 1% sales tax, but added that he stood by to work with the county in mitigating the impact.

Mr. Bradley observed on the Westchester County dilemma, "You cannot cut property taxes three years in a row, then use a tobacco settlement to cut taxes just before elections without someday having to raise taxes."

Bill is a Start.

In the official news release announcing his Medicaid Cap Bill, the bill is described as “landmark legislation would have the state bear responsibility for any increase in escalating state mandated Medicaid payments. The state currently passes on 25% of the total costs of Medicaid to the counties. Bradley's legislation would cap the counties' share of Medicaid payments at the level set at the close of the immediately prior fiscal year (2002, if the bill is passed and signed by the Governor this session). By accepting responsibility for any Medicaid costs above the current level the state would significantly aid the counties during difficult budgetary periods, Bradley’s release said.

Bradley’s official statement

"We need sensible long-term solutions to the current fiscal difficulties our counties are facing. This measure will provide relief to Westchester and other counties for years to come. Importantly, it will provide the state an incentive to contain its own escalating Medicaid costs"

Meanwhile: Silver would not advance the sales tax without Delegation Consensus.

Bradley provided details to WPCNR on the reported conference held Monday between New York State Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver, and the Westchester Assembly delegation. Bradley said the conference took place by telephone because Assembly Speaker Silver was absent from the capitol yesterday for personal reasons.

Bradley reported that Silver learned yesterday the Assembly delegation from Westchester still did not have a consensus agreeing that the Westchester County requested bill increasing the county sales tax 1% to cover the county budget gap should reach the floor. “Assemblyman Silver is not in favor of presenting bills the Assembly delegation did not have a consensus on.”

White Plains ½% Sales Tax to be advanced to the Assembly Floor as a separate bill.

On the issue of the White Plains biannual request to extend their “sunset” ½% sales tax, Bradley reported that he is personally sponsoring the bill as a measure separate from the traditional omnibus spending bill passed routinely later in the year.

Bradley said he is working to get the bill onto the Assembly floor, and is working in cooperation with Senator Nick Spano to get it introduced in the State Senate to get the bill passed faster. Property Tax Impact Overstated due to tax’s deductibility.

Mr. Bradley voiced his opinion to WPCNR that the property tax as advanced to the Assembly delegation by the county was appropriated only 25% to the communities, and 75% to the county to help cover the county budget deficit, and he felt this was not appropriate, given that the cities were allowed to keep 100% of their sales tax.

He added that the impact of the increased property tax on homeowners was mitigated by the advantage of being tax deductible against the federal and state-income tax rates.

Note: Assemblyman Bradley contacted WPCNR to correct misinterpretations by WPCNR in the previous edition of this article. The amount of property tax he said would be 1/3 less, not 2/3. Mr. Bradley made clear Westchester County paid 50% of the State's share of Medicaid, while the Federal government picked up the remaining 50%. Bradley also clarified the position of his White Plains Sales Tax Bill he is sponsoring, saying it had not reached the floor yet, and that it was a completely separate bill. WPCNR apologizes for the misunderstandings on our part.


Create an account		The White Plains Daily Internet Newspaper...Founded 2000 A.D....


			Designed and hosted by WestchesterInternet.com