Chemung County Legislator Rodney J. Strange supported a resolution at the October 11th legislature meeting seeking a multi-year state takeover of the local share of Medicaid costs.
Medicaid is the number one mandate facing New York counties. The local costs to New York’s 62 counties is $7.3 billion. The State Legislation will require state policymakers to take full fiscal responsibility for New York’s largest in the nation Medicaid program, by implementing an eight (8) year gradual State takeover of county Medicaid costs. Removing county taxpayers from the financing of Medicaid is the single most important thing the State Legislature can do to lower property taxes for NewYorkers and Chemung County taxpayers. The State takeover will lead to lower property taxes and enhance New York’s economic competitiveness and improve economic opportunities for all New Yorkers.
Legislator Strange says the state takeover is essential in keeping property taxes from rising. “I will continue to seek ways to save taxpayer dollars by reforming Medicaid costs. The elimination of the local share costs would allow Chemung County to lower property taxes by about 70%. We also need to work to end the waste, fraud, and abuse in the system,” Strange said. Also at the meeting, Strange voted to continue the inter-municipal agreement with the City of Elmira for the Welfare Fraud Investigator. Last year, the position recovered $400.000.00 in welfare fraud and returned it to the taxpayers. “I would like to see us increase in the number of Fraud Investigators in the future so we can continue to save money for the taxpayers and prosecute those who abuse the system,” Strange said.