State Giveth and Taketh

The state frequently appears to be extending a helping hand to local municipalities and counties. However, the state has quick hands, when they have a helping hand extended; they are picking your pocket with the other hand.

Case in point, the state has offered assistance of their Oneida Correctional Facility’s Food Production Center in Rome as a means for counties to provide meals to inmates in county jail facilities. Several officials from different counties toured the facility recently; Jefferson County is reported to been represented on the tour so we should hear more from county officials on the possible benefits this program may provide.

On the other hand, the state government is enacting a cost shift from state funding to greater county funding. The shift cuts funding for county programs, both mandated and optional, with education, Medicaid and other entitlement programs. The state is woefully inadequate in estimating the cost to local taxpayers by stating a $21.6 impact for counties, that figure is only a one year figure for 2009 and does not include the balance of 2008 or any year beyond 2009.

So the next time a politician from the state level says, Hi, I am from the state and we are here to help you, hold on to your wallets