In part of his efforts to close the increasing gap in the state budget, Gov. David Paterson has made some unpopular decisions — one of which was hotly debated Wednesday.
Lyndonville Mayor Marc Scarr came before the Orleans County Legislature to express his frustration with the supplemental Covered Lives Assessment. The assessment, created as part of the state deficit reduction plan, called for an increase to Covered Lives Assessment, retroactive to October 2008. The effect would be that businesses and private citizens would see an increase in their health insurance premiums, creating more tax burdens for state residents.
“I’ve spoken to a couple legislators about this. ... Recently, I got a letter from my insurance company saying I’m going to get a charge to pay for county health insurance,” Scarr said. He said with the number of county employees, it will cost Orleans County residents anywhere from $100 to $400 per employee, depending on the size of their family.
“I’ve come in to say, ‘Come on guys, give us a break — this has got to stop,’ ” Scarr said. “I have problems in my little village, and I have only five employees; you have 400. You know it will be trickled down, and the guy on the bottom will pay for it.”
The Legislature then passed a resolution “respectfully requesting that state leaders focus on tax relief and programmatic reform including the reversal of the supplemental covered lives assessment included in the 2009-10 state budget.”
In other news, the Legislature took a moment to react to Thom Jennings column last Thursday, in which Jennings suggested lowering sales tax rate by 1 percent to attract more consumers to the area and use it as a “promotional tool.” Jennings also went on to say in the past few years, “County government’s sales tax revenue has exceeded the budget’s projections.”
According to Chief Administrative Officer Chuck Nesbitt, for the past five years, the county has been within an average of 3.8 percent for their budgets, saying Jennings’ accusation regarding the budget projections was untrue.
“To make up for the revenue lost in that 1 percent of taxes, we’d have to see $117 million in new purchases,” Nesbitt explained.
Legislator Lynne Johnson said that the 1 percent would be equivalent to $2.33 per thousand of assessed value.
“If we weren’t going to pass that onto the taxpayer, we couldn’t even make up for it by cutting out all of our road patrol,” Johnson said. “We’re hopeful the Senate will address that.”
Local News
County rebels against state plan
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Hospice residence construction continues
The construction of the new Martin-Linsin Hospice Residence, which is now well under way just behind the Hospice of Orleans office building on Route 31 in Albion, will allow Hospice to provide care and assistance for those patients and their families.
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Library construction, fundraising hit milestones
The project to build a new library in Albion is seeing a lot of green — both in the foam insulation that is being added at the South Main Street construction site and in Swan Library’s fundraising effort.
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Albion plans for summer
Village officials heard details about this summer’s Albion Strawberry Festival and another big event that could bring visitors back to the village later in the summer — if concerns about street usage are cleared up — during Wednesday’s board meeting.
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Theater impact grant formally announced
The National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, has awarded the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor a 2012 Impact Grant to support the launch of the Theatre on Main Street project in Albion in collaboration with the Albion Main Street Alliance and the Western Erie Canal Alliance.
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Inter-county collaboration
The Orleans County Legislature finalized a formal alliance with their Niagara County counterparts Wed-nesday, a move leaders from both counties said will lead to reduced costs and increased services.
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County management salary increases discussed
County Legislators will vote later this month on a local law that affects the 2012 salaries and benefits of nine county officials, with a net impact of adding $4,723 in payments.
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Drug court graduates four
Four participants in the Orleans County Drug Court received cheers Monday for completing the intensive, three-stage program.
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Albion CSD budget coming to view
The Albion Central School District’s 2012-13 budget is coming into clearer view, and school officials say the picture is better than at this point last year.
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Medina student is Sabres Jr. Reporter
The Buffalo Sabres have faced many difficult questions during what has so far been a disappointing season, but it was all smiles when Oak Orchard Elementary School student Melanie Hibbard came to First Niagara Center to watch practice and interview players for a feature that will air later this month.
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Group aims to honor Laughlin
The Medina Mustangs could play their next football game on a field named for longtime coach John “Pinky” Loughlin if the Medina School Board approves a proposal made Tuesday by the Parents Athletic Club.
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