Groups tout Cuomo mandate relief proposals

SYRACUSE — Local government officials joined area and state business leaders in Syracuse today to push for Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s mandate relief plans.

“These changes have the potential to save municipalities across this region and state billions of dollars in years to come preventing cuts in essential services local governments provide,” Minoa Village Mayor Richard Donovan said in a news release.

Cuomo’s plans will save Onondaga County governments more than $24 million over the next five years, according to the release, issued by CenterState CEO, the Business Council of New York State, and the Committee to Save New York (CSNY), a business-backed advocacy group. Another Cuomo proposal to add a new tier in the state pension system would save $1.6 billion over 30 years.

In Onondaga County, mandated costs have increased by 75 percent since 2009, according to the release.

Cuomo has proposed that the state takeover the costs of growth in Medicaid starting in full in 2015. He also proposed $715 million in unrestricted operating aid for local governments in this year’s budget and organized a council to offer new proposals on mandate reform.

“Now that the property tax cap is in place, it is imperative that municipalities and school districts be provided significant mandate relief so they can meet the goals of the property tax cap,” Robert Simpson, a CSNY advisory board member and president of CenterState CEO, said in the release. “Gov. Cuomo’s plan addresses the burden put on our counties and municipalities. It supports a vibrant private sector that is encouraged to grow in an environment where government is part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

Contact Tampone at ktampone@cnybj.com