Partial truth in taxation

Posted 8/23/11

On August 17, 2011 the Sullivan County Legislature held a public meeting addressing the proposed bill, “Truth in Taxation,” that would provide a line on the next tax bill showing the mandated …

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Partial truth in taxation

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On August 17, 2011 the Sullivan County Legislature held a public meeting addressing the proposed bill, “Truth in Taxation,” that would provide a line on the next tax bill showing the mandated cost of Medicaid and other social programs. As a senior and advocate for senior issues, I was concerned about the possible reverberations of this bill and presented the following opinion to the legislators:

“I was not present at the committee meeting where this legislation was discussed and I am not aware of any concern that might have been expressed of unintended consequences. Because Medicaid and other social service programs are being targeted, I fear that our county would be seen as mean spirited and divisive for taking this approach in its crusade against mandates. More and more residents are forced by economic circumstances to qualify for these services — long-term care, whether in nursing homes or in the home, is the largest portion of Medicaid expense. Other mandated social services include such needs as Temporary Aid to Needy Families, special education, legal defense, probation, youth detention and early intervention (which may avoid escalation of problems bringing more expense in the future). Transparency is one thing in educating the county taxpayer, but this is clearly discriminatory. Why not provide the entire budget? Oh, I know that would be unmanageable but who is going to prepare these modified tax bills and accompanying flier? Our county staff is already cut to the bone and the town tax assessors may not relish the task.

This is unseemly in an election year.

The problems of mandates being shared 50/50 with the state has been around a long time — an inequity that must be addressed. Governor Cuomo has established a Mandate Relief Team to reevaluate the system.* There are real problems here but let’s not stigmatize our fellow residents — our neighbors’ genuine need for services by singling them out. There would be unintended consequences.

‘Meanspirited’ and ‘divisive’ are adjectives I wouldn’t want to see attributed to our county’s actions.”

Afterword: The legislature did pass the bill (Partial Truth in Taxation I call it) by a vote of 6-2.

*I read on the Medicare Relief Team website that they are recommending a redesign of the process for a request for a waiver of mandates. Only one county (not ours) has taken advantage of the waiver in the 10- year period of its existence.

Priscilla Bassett

Grahamsville, NY

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