On a party-line vote, County Legislators approved a plan to solve the county's budget problems by letting the state take over its Medicaid costs, giving up a substantial amount of its sales tax in return.
Under Brooks' plan, announced just an hour before the legislature met to vote on it, the city, towns, and villages are supposed to continue to receive their share of sales-tax funds. But funds for suburban school districts will be reduced by 50 percent. Brooks said that will be offset by "record increases in state aid" that the districts received in this year's state budget, and by increases that Governor Eliot Spitzer has promised.
Brooks also said that municipalities will be charged for their students who attend Monroe Community College.
Brooks said her plan permits a small reduction in the property-tax rate.
The meeting was a contentious one, with Democrats visibly angry and Republicans sometimes cutting off Democrats' attempts to ask questions. Democrats complained about the meeting being called on short notice. They objected to the elimination of sales-tax revenue for the suburban school districts, saying that Brooks was solving the budget problems "on the backs of our children."
Reports had been circulating earlier in the day that towns and villages would be protected under the plan, but not the City of Rochester or the suburban districts. Those reports had come from Democrats and Republicans who did not have first-hand knowledge of the plan.
Although the cut in suburban school-district funds will be a major one, it won't make up for the full loss in sales taxes to the state. Brooks said the difference can be made up through the MCC charge-backs, and a $10 increase in the vehicle registration fee. Brooks didn't say how the charge-back will affect individual municipalities. But whatever that amount, it will amount to a new expense for those municipalities.
Comments for "Brooks' plan cuts suburban-school funding, charges taxpayers for MCC students" (4)
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IceCucumber said on Sep. 26, 2007 at 9:28pm
Maggie Brooks and the Repubican controlled legislature are pathetic. I left the special session of the county legislature tonight so upset and outraged and furious and it's been 2.5 hours and I haven't calmed down yet. Tonight was a barrage of new terminology and lies. It's no longer a tax intercept plan but a "swap." The bottom line is that our taxes will be going up. What kind of dream world are the Republicans living in? They actually believe they can cut funding to schools by 50% without any negative impact on education because the state has increased funding. Schools are counting on state AND county money. It's sad this had to be done without public imput. Sometimes it's hard to believe that this is America.
Erich Van Dussen said on Sep. 27, 2007 at 10:30am
What's galling about Brooks' plan isn't the degree of devastation it will cause each district (a simple, painful tax increase will solve the problem), but that Brooks is once again "solving" a budget crisis by robbing Peter to pay Paul -- moving money around rather than actually trying to find novel approaches to fiscal economy and economic development. Worse still, she actually went further than was necessary to satisfy her insane "no county tax hike" pledge, and CUT her rate by a small amount when rate parity might have meant a slightly better deal for the lower municipalities.
In the end, she's revealing her true political character: kneecapping others in broad daylight so she can pick their pockets, stand at a podium and offer to buy us lunch. A serious challenger to her re-election bid could gain real traction with this news -- but then, if the Dems had fielded one, she likely wouldn't have revealed her plans until after Election Day.
Tom Janowski said on Sep. 27, 2007 at 5:14pm
It isn't just about what Maggie did, it is also about how she did it. A quickly arranged meeting. No time to get the word out to the public in order to have public comment. This is simply unforgiveable.
Tom Janowski said on Sep. 29, 2007 at 6:38am
I just saw more evidence of Maggie's dishonest ways. There are TV ads running attesting to her great plan.
What's the big deal? It takes time to film a TV ad....there was no time for public debate on this issue but those TV ads were made well in advance. Think about it.
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