By KIM SMITH DEDAM
SARANAC LAKE — State budget cuts should come with a hitch: Remove unfunded mandates.
This was the key message North Country lawmakers delivered early Thursday at a Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast.
Sen. Betty Little (R-Queensbury) and Assemblywomen Teresa Sayward (R-Willsboro) and Janet Duprey (R-Peru) discussed dire budget concerns in unison with area business, civic and political leaders here.
"We all voted against the budget last year," Little said. "Talk about funny math. In this year's budget, we have to come in with a plan that spends less, prioritizing what state government should be doing for you."
MANDATE BASHED
Little referred to the newly released Empire Center Report, which spells out the cost of unfunded mandates.
"We need to take back state mandates and make them an option for health care and schools," Sayward said.
Duprey said unfunded mandates have been a nemesis since her days as Clinton County treasurer.
"I've been on a mission for three years. I can't say I've reached epiphany yet, but we're working on it."
AID SHORTFALLS
Lawmakers responded to voices of concern.
Tracy Schrader, a member of Saranac Lake School Board, said they have made cut after cut already and are not sure where state-aid reductions will leave the district.
"It's going to be really scary for us. We don't know where we are going to come up with the money."
Gov. David Paterson announced later Thursday that school aid that had been held would be released.
Sayward said all three North Country legislators have told Paterson "if you're going to take away the money, you are going to have to make these mandates optional."
Harrietstown Supervisor Larry Miller described bare bones rattling in the frozen town budget with the $400,000 loss from fuel sales out of a total $5 million spending plan.
"I don't have any more fluff in our budget," he said. "We can't afford to do anything else."
"We all stand by you," Duprey said. "We've got to cut spending in the state;…we're really determined."
Little said the focus in Albany should rest primarily on infrastructure and services.
"It should not be buying more state land in the Adirondacks," she added, earning applause.
UNION CONTRIBUTION
Chandler Ralph, CEO and president of Adirondack Medical Center, asked lawmakers if state jobs were a sacred cow and whether state workers would step forward to "help make a joint sacrifice."
Little said Tier 5 jobs will see a big shift this year, with workers contributing more to their pension funds and limits set on the overtime that factor average salary calculations for benefits.
"You have to have the unions participating in stepping forward," Little said.
LATE PAYMENTS
Some local businesses and community nonprofits aren't even getting the money already due from the state.
Officials from AMC talked about grant money and nursing-home funds at risk.
A plumbing and heating business owner with several state contracts said it is taking 60 to 90 days to get paid by the state.
"Yeah, and you don't get 60 to 90 days to pay your employment taxes," Little said. "We can help you."
The senator said they have all made calls chasing state money.
"They are holding onto every grant they can hold onto. We have to continue to peel away."
Margot Gold, who runs the North Country Healthy Heart Network, said they have had to lay off workers and take out loans while waiting for funding awarded by the Department of Health, though their work targets prevention to thwart expensive medical care.
"We are dancing to the state's tune, but it's getting exhausting and debilitating," Gold said.
'KILLING ITSELF'
Rebecca Leahy, executive director at North Country Home Services, said they face "regulation overkill" with new unfunded mandates targeting unlawful sales of home-health certificates in urban areas.
"New York is killing itself with regulation, taxes and fees," Little said.
GOVERNOR'S PLAN
Even as the breakfast meeting wrapped up, Paterson sent out a press statement announcing sweeping reform measures in a four-year moratorium on unfunded mandates.
The announcement said his budget — to be released Tuesday — will address more than 100 mandates that translate into over $1 billion in local savings over the next three years.
Among mandates on the list are preschool special education, cost burdens at county jails and probation offices, Medicaid, and school and local government procurement flexibility.
In a statement Thursday afternoon, Little called Paterson's relief measures impressive.
"Mandate relief and increased flexibility for local officials is absolutely essential to help our local officials manage their way through this crisis and avoid raising property taxes."
E-mail Kim Smith Dedam at: kdedam@pressrepublican.com
