Delaware board offers clear messages to state

The board passed a resolution calling for the governor and state Legislature to take responsibility for the growth of the state's Medicaid program and cap the local share at the 2001 expenditure level.

William Moon, social services commissioner, told the board the county's Medicaid costs increased 14 percent from 2001 to 2002 and an overall estimated cost increase of 35 percent could be expected by the close of 2003.

Moon presented a written perspective, saying, "Delaware (County) has always viewed Medicaid as a progressive social program. However, it is a program that Delaware did not design, does not set rates for and is not allowed to manage.

"Delaware is required to fund its share of Medicaid, which falls disproportionately on our most regressive tax base, the property tax," Moon said. "The funding of Medicaid has brought Delaware to its own fiscal crisis."

A second resolution was passed opposing the inclusion of Camp Shankitunk on the national and state registers of historic places.

Harpersfield Supervisor James Eisel, board chairman, said the county received a letter from Bernadette Castro, commissioner of the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, requesting the county ask for Camp Shankitunk to be included on the national and state registers.

According to the resolution, submitted by Roxbury Supervisor Thomas Hynes, "This board can see nothing historic relating to the buildings located at Camp Shankitunk."

The resolution goes on to say the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has been "nothing but a roadblock to various county building projects."

It specifically mentions the handicapped access to the county clerk's office building and courthouse, and the development of the new correctional facility and public safety building currently under construction.

According to the resolution, the designation of Camp Shankitunk as historic would create problems with modifying, renovating and demolishing buildings at the camp.

"If the camp is given a historic designation, it will be one headache after another," said Walton Supervisor Joseph Hanley. "This is just the beginning of this board's attitude. It kills me that every time we raise taxes it's all because of mandates. The wording may seem hard or harsh or strong, but enough is enough."

In other board business:

• Three people addressed the board during a public hearing on department head salary increases.

Al Perkins of Delhi asked why there was a 6 percent to 6.5 percent increase in salaries when the business community can only afford to give 3 percent raises. He also noted some individuals were getting raises in the 7 percent to 10 percent range, and a person hired in January was also getting a raise.

Hanley said department heads got raises at the same rate as the union employees. He added that they didn't get a raise last year, so the 6 percent increase represented 3 percent for each year. Department heads got larger increases because they received step advancements. The new hire negotiated the salary increase in his contract.

John Barlow of Bovina said he is retired and concerned about the county's spending. With the loss of industry in the county, he said, there isn't a large enough tax base to support increased spending.

"It costs my wife and I $500 a month to pay our property taxes to keep our place here in Delaware County," Barlow said. "We think we have one of the best places in Bovina and we could sell it, but that's not an alternative for someone born and brought up here."

Elizabeth Gelski said, "The taxes are just about all we can afford to spend right now. I don't think people here need any more. We are going to have a hard time paying."

• The board unanimously approved 18 local laws approving the salary increases.