Thursday, May 13, 2010

ULSTER COUNTY SAFETY NET

What a pleasure it was to drop by the Health & Human Services Committee this Thursday evening. Although I am not a voting member of this committee, I felt it necessary to attend this month's meeting because of a specific proposal made by my colleagues representing Kingston.

In recent months there has been some drama concerning the over payment in services by the City of Kingston for Assistance and Care of persons utilizing Social Services of any kind. Seems people from other towns of close proximity had their services billed to the City of Kingston because the Department didn't have the wherewithal to know the difference and the city officials didn't double c
heck. They assumed Westchester resident Roberto Rodriguez, our Health Dept Commissioner, knew where the town lines were way up here in Ulster County.

This drama prompted the alternate discussion regarding the "Safety Net" as a whole, and how to remedy the inequitable policy that is currently in place. You see, the only county in the country that provides these services and bills the municipalities in this fashion is Ulster County. None of the other 61 counties in New York handle the billing the same way. Here, the municipality that houses the homeless and subsidized, have to pay 50% of the cost. Other Counties cover those same costs for this county service.

This places a financial dis-incentive for towns other than Wawarsing and Kingston to increase low income/subsidized housing in their districts for fear that they would have to assume half the costs of the service. If someone falls on hard times while living in Woodstock, Saugerties or Lloyd, the townsfolk will put you, yo
ur family and whats left of your belongings on a bus for Kingston or Ellenville.

As proposed by Legislators Donaldson and Laughran, the County would phase in the proper assumption of the cost of the county service over a two or more year period. Eventually; with the understanding that towns would nolonger see that providing emergency housing and assistance for townsfolk who fall on hard times will dictate that they leave the towns they raised their families in.

From what I've gathered in my short four months on the Legislature, the subject of realligning the "Safety Net" costs back to the county where it properly belongs, usually took place during the last hours of the budget discussions in December...destined to fail significant discussion upon arrival. This year, with the screw-up in billing causing such a stir, the subject is now front & centre.

The City of Kingston is on the verge of suing the County to correct the inequitable billing practice that has caused undue burden on the city infrastructure and the taxpayers. Kingstonians are faced with paying for a county service they take no part in. Nor want to. A taxing system plagued with discriminational undertones simply because of where persons on the service may reside. It doesn't look good.

Voting in favor: Rob Parete, Wayne Harris and Joe Stoeckler. Voting against: Laura Petit, Walter Frey and Ken Ronk. It should be noted that Mr Harris voted in favor for the purpose of allowing it to get to the floor. He intends to vote "No" when it gets there.


Afterward, Ken, Walter and I had some passionate banter in the county parking lot. Not enough to warrant security, it was quite fun actually. But we did get to express ourselves on the issue and bring our perspective into view between the three of us. We all agree that it is unusual that this issue comes up so early in the year, allowing it to become an animal in its own right rather than a footnote during the budget process.

My former bandmates on the Council asked that I play a role in the "Safety Net" discussion when I got to the Legislature; since they felt it never went anywhere with the members we had in place for the last two decades. Perhaps the combination of the billing mishap and the new face with an agenda has sparked a much needed conversation.

I don't know the outcome of Resolution 147, but I do like being engaged in what could be "equitable tax distribution modification" which may help Kingston and Wawarsing in the future. Lets hope for an enlightened outcome.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am one of many who believe that if this inequitable system is changed, the practice of Kingston receiving an oversized amount of county sales tax revenues needs to be addressed as well.

Anonymous said...

I may be going out on a limb here [as a GOPer] but if the County, originally, thought the safety-net equation was going to work many years ago and has not AND no other County in the whole State has tackled it the way Ulster has then I would say its time to ditch the plan and revert the law back.

Anonymous said...

9:43...You've got a point. Let's also ask the county to start placing all their tax free facilities in towns that currently feel no county service pain.
Let's start building low income subsidized housing in Woodstock, Walkill and Lloyd.
It should be an easy fix and welcomed by the towns throughout the county.
If these towns wanted DSS hubs in their villages, they'd have done it already if it weren't for the fiscal deterrent of the current system.
Imagine what the Woodstck Green would look like if there was a 30 unit DSS building on Rock City Rd.

Anonymous said...

Kingston is the county seat. It comes with baggage. The city gets compensated very well by the County in terms of sales tax distribution.
What's the problem? Throw the sales tax back in the pot and then complain. You can not have your cake and eat it too!

Anonymous said...

Do the 1500 or so County employees that work in Kingston spend money at local businesses? I am sure New Paltz, Ellenville or better yet Ulster would love to have more county employees in their towns. Kingston is getting a far greater share of sales tax then they generate. I think Kingston should count their blessings that they have the ability to rip off the other towns (Ulster) and get away with it.

Anonymous said...

It was just this morning I watched one of our DSS "clients" climb out of a cab at B&B Bagel. She got her bagels and climbed back in and went home. I'm sure Kingston taxpayers paid for her ride and her food.
Makes me feel so warm and fuzzy to know how much I work for her benefits.

Anonymous said...

Can you imagine a hive of Section 8 housing right on S Chestnut in New paltz? I think that would be very funny. If it requires a shift in sales tax distribution to get low income or homeless shelters on Main St New paltz and the Woodstock Green, I think I may go for it.
Obviously these people think ots ok for Kingston to accomodate these "clients" so maybe it's their turn.

Anonymous said...

Sottile and Tuey costing us about $ 250,000 year with salary, benefits and perks - they didn't check the bills before paying them?

Anonymous said...

If the County Court building, Family Court and the County office building were moved to another town, uptown Kingston would turn into a ghost town. All of those lawyers' offices gone, the uptown eateries gone and on down the line.

Anonymous said...

8:21 has a point. About 20 businesses would fail in uptown Kingston without all the county buildings.
I say keep the system just as it is and deal with it. I don't want some Elizabeth Manor or Darmstadt Shelter in my town and think Broadway being what it is, you deserve all that we're sending your way. This is why we tolerate the sales tax ratio, so we don't have to deal with the headache.

Anonymous said...

Sottile is in court more than the judge. He wastes taxpayers money on his lawyers. Who by the way are deserting him one by one.

Anonymous said...

Shifting the tax burden from the city to the towns would only address how the safety net is funded. I have no objetion to funding the program on a county level, but the municipalities have played an important role in service delivery and preventing waste, fraud and abuse of the system.The legislators need to develop a plan for implementation. Who will be responsible (way more responsible than the Mayor was) to administrate the program and protect the taxpayer?

NS said...

Mike and company,

Check this out:

"Homeless, But Enjoying Hawaii On $3 A Day"; National Public Radio (NPR) Newscast;

http://n.npr.org/NPRI/jN100368753_434452_434378_Z.htm [Link Received From "NPR's Most E-Mailed Stories" (newsletters@n.npr.org) on Sun AM, 5/16/10)]

The newscast is also up [you can listen to it there --- or access it through a direct link] on my blog at "Flinging Towards the Sun":

http://www.flingtowardsthesun.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

8:06, The County Executive is responsible for the day to day operation of the County, just ask him. Unless of course, there is bad news associated with the operation. Then it is up to the Legislature to fix it. Look no further than Golden Hill & Safety Net.

Anonymous said...

What happens when the homeowner/taxpayer in the City of Kingston gets disgusted about the safety net program and decides to move away or at least out of the city of Kingston. What happens then? Who is left to cover the bill for the safety net program? I am getting closer and closer in leaving this county if only I could sell my home. It is a vicious circle. My taxes are high because of this burden and due to taxes being high here in Ulster I cannot sell my home becasue nobody wants to move to the city except DSS clients. I am looking forward to see what the 2010 census reveals about the population of Kingston.

Anonymous said...

13% raises - we must be special here in Ulster County.

Anonymous said...

Will City residents get refunded the taxes refunded from County to City?

Anonymous said...

Does DSS pay landlords in the City of Kingston without verifying that they are currently registered?

Anonymous said...

Not for nothing I live in WALLKILL NEW YORK. I hate the fact I must go all the way to kingston Just to deal with sumbody who hates there job. in D.S.S> who is dumber then me.. not only that if you do want any kind of help they want to know how much you your weight is all the way down to damn near a dna test you wait 45 days untill anyone can even help you by then u could be eatin rat shit off the streets. my point is orange county hass 3 d s s buildings at least. n the people dont like wut they do but they dont chew your head off neither. like KINGSTON.. sorry had no wers else to complain