Senator Nozzolio Joins Governor Pataki And Nys Association Of Counties To Announce Savings To Area County Taxpayers Under Historic New Medicaid Cap

Albany — As part of his on-going efforts to reduce the burden on New York’s taxpayers, State Senator Michael F. Nozzolio (R-Fayette) today joined Governor Pataki and the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) to announce county-by-county budget savings under the first two years of the State’s historic cap and takeover of the local share of the Medicaid program.

“We’re proud to announce county-by-county estimates of billions of dollars in savings that taxpayers will see as a result of our efforts,” Senator Nozzolio said. “This new measure will allow counties to construct soundly-balanced budgets that restrain spending growth and reduce property taxes.”

Savings by county includes:

· Cayuga - - $360,770 in 05-06, $1.88 million in 06-07
· Wayne - - $477,918 in 05-06, $2.5 million in 06-07
· Monroe - - $2.94 million in 05-06, $15.2 million in 06-07
· Ontario - - $486,591 in 05-06, $2.54 million in 06-07
· Tompkins - - $259,526 in 05-06, $1.35 million in 06-07
· Seneca - - $147,000 in 05-06, $767,000 in 06-07

“As a member of the State Senate Medicaid Reform Task Force, I believe that more needs to be done to reduce costs especially in eliminating rampant fraud in New York States Medicaid system,” Nozzolio added.

Under the new Medicaid cap counties and New York City will realize a cumulative total of $6.5 billion in savings over the next five years, beginning in 2006.

The substantial Medicaid savings data, provided this week to assist counties in crafting their 2006 fiscal year budgets -- will allow dozens of counties to limit their spending growth and provide taxpayers with significant property tax relief this year.

The new Medicaid reform plan will be fully implemented in 2008 when counties will have a permanent Medicaid cap not to exceed 3 percent annually. Passage of a number of Medicaid reform proposals advanced by the Governor and enacted by the State Legislature earlier this year have allowed the State to assume a greater share of the costs.

“Significant Medicaid reform that fights fraud is also critical if New York is to provide property tax relief to our residents. Government must become more accountable for how taxpayer dollars are used and I will continue to work aggressively to reorganize and reform New York’s process of detecting and combating Medicaid fraud and ultimately save State and local taxpayers billions of dollars,” concluded Nozzolio.

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