Senator Alesi: State Budget Will Cap Monroe County's Medicaid Tab

Senator Jim Alesi (R,C - Perinton) today announced that the state budget to be enacted this week will include a substantial Medicaid relief program that will provide more than $75 million in tax savings for Monroe County residents.

"For years, skyrocketing Medicaid costs have placed a tremendous burden on local taxpayers and governments," said Senator Alesi. "After reviewing the Medicaid program in recent years, an agreement has been reached that provides real relief to taxpayers and lessens the pressure on local governments to raise local property taxes."

The savings, designed to ease pressure on local property taxes, stems from new cost controls, a "cap" on local Medicaid spending and an accelerated state takeover of the Family Health Plus program. Also, new local accountability standards will save taxpayers additional money as the county seeks to improve the Medicaid program's efficiency.

The cap, which was included within the Senate's original budget proposal, will provide about $8.6 million in tax relief to Monroe County taxpayers in 2006. That amount will grow exponentially by 2009 to $75 million. In total, counties throughout New York State will save over $3.3 billion by the end of the decade.