Notes from CEL meeting 3/16/05

1. What are the issues in growth

Taxation & regulation Locally & in Albany

• Albany is the main culprit, IMO.
• Excessive taxation
• Treating the whole state as the same place; really two states in one
• Unfunded mandates
  

Fact #1: New York State’s local taxes, like property taxes, are 72% above the national average, and are the highest in the nation.

Fact #2: Our elected officials in Albany force down upon counties the highest level of local financing for Medicaid. Most states split the cost with the federal government and require no local property tax share.

Fact #3: The local cost of Medicaid is the fastest growing cost in county budgets throughout New York State. Our elected officials in Albany are the only ones who can reduce this effect on your property taxes.

Fact #4: Currently, Medicaid covers 1 in 5 New Yorkers at a per-beneficiary cost 2.5 times the national average. This is the highest of any state in the country.

Fact #5: In 2004, New York will spend $42 billion on Medicaid, more than California ($25 billion) and Texas ($15 billion) combined, even though together those states have three times our population.

Fact #6: With less than 7% of the nation’s population, New York spends 12% of the country’s Medicaid dollars.

Fact #7: Medicaid costs continue to rise through New York State, but state and federal aid to the counties are declining and revenue from property and sales taxes remain stagnant throughout the State.

Fact #8: The cost of Medicaid to local property taxpayers in Erie County is $184.3 million this year alone. Every penny of the Erie County property tax levy goes to pay for the local share of Medicaid.

Fundamentally reform government

• Abolish county government
• Abolish city government
• Establish one metropolitan government – a new entity
• We have 500 elected officials. Charlotte, NC (e.g.) has 12.
• Less government strata = less waste, lower taxes.
• Everything the county does can be done by the state or towns. (or metro govt)
• The county elected offices (comptroller, DA, sheriff, Clerk) can continue to be elected county-wide, but they become state employees.
• The State DOT can establish regional offices to handle road upkeep.
• Pitting suburb vs. city is simply nuts.
• We need to emphasize somehow to people that the whole region sinks or swims together;
• What’s good for Amherst & OP is good for Buffalo & vice-versa

2. What action(s) can we take, either as individuals or as a group, and how broad or narrow a focus;

GET INVOLVED & GET LOUD

Buffalo and New York have been run into the ground, because they’re controlled by special interests, patronage hacks & lobbyists who all have their hand out.

It’s time for government to stop catering to the unions and special interests and start acting in the best interests of the community-at-large;

• If NY & Buffalo business flourishes, and people stay/immigrate, then everyone will benefit.

SO GET INVOLVED
On a local level, there are several groups taking on local taxation issues
WNY Coalition for Progress
Free buffalo
Primary Challenge
Onebuffalo
New Millenium Group
Fixalbany.com
Public Policy institute; let upstate be upstate
Constitutional convention in Albany

AND GET LOUD
Start a blog
Write a LTE
Run for office
Write to your state & local officials

3. How to avoid the mistake of duplication (competing groups, aka IDA's) that WNY seems to make over and over.

Not an expert on this, but it goes back to the theme of unity: suburbs & city in it together.

WNY needs to compete against, e.g., Erie PA and Syracuse. We can no longer afford to have Amherst compete against Buffalo & vice-versa.

Geico deal good example of regionalism at work; Tonawanda IDA donated credits to Amherst IDA to attract Geico – which is an earth-shatteringly positive addition to WNY.

As for competing groups, I don’t think that’s necessarily a negative. Our democracy flourishes in pluralism and debate; several groups discussing and debating different means to reach an end is good - because at least the problem is being discussed at all.