Jimino renews criticism of state
Annual State of the County address focuses on unfunded mandates
TROY, N.Y. >> Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen Jimino continued her ongoing criticism of the cost of state-mandated programs Thursday night as she presented her annual State of the County address to members of the county Legislature.
“Unfortunately, the county’s responsible and responsive view of fiscal conservatism, neither now nor long range, is seemingly shared by the state as they continue to wrench up the cost of the mandated programs that they order the counties across the state to deliver, as well as increase the expansion of their existing ones,” Jimino said. “That is not to mention the overt and extremely costly shifting of state program fiscal accountability to
the counties as they expand their programs, leaving the counties the duty of funding these programs through hard-earned local tax dollars.”
Jimino went on to criticize Gov. Andrew Cuomo during her 20-minute speech to legislators and a few dozen community members, claiming the Democrat wasn’t telling the truth to the public about state spending.
“The governor’s point that state government is exercising a diet is a statement which would not make Weight Watchers proud, as the facts show that the state has increased their mandated costs to our own county alone by over 70 percent over the past 11 years,” said Jimino. “This dramatic increase is true throughout the other counties in the state, as well. During the same time period, by stepping on the scales every morning and therefore actively attempting to keep our local program spending diet under control, Rensselaer County is now spending 8 percent less for locally funded services — such as maintenance and patrol of roads and highways, as well as services for veterans and seniors — than we were 11 years ago.”
The speech was originally set for Tuesday night, but was postponed, along with the legislators’ meeting, due to the blizzard that hit the area that day.
Jimino went on to talk about some positive things the county accomplished over the past year, highlighting many successful programs launched in 2016.
“During 2016, our sheriff launched the Operation Lifesaver program for seniors with Alzheimer’s living in the community and children with autism, so that they can be readily found if they wander,” said Jimino. “Additionally, over 1,200 individuals within and outside county government were trained by our sheriff’s department in an active shooter response as part of our efforts to encourage personal preparedness.”
But the program with the most urgent task, she said, is a countywide coalition formed to battle a nationwide epidemic of heroin and opiod abuse and addiction that is being felt around the region, as well.
“With the assistance and leadership of the sheriff and the public health director as co-chairs, in a true countywide, all-hands-ondeck effort, we are combining the expertise of 13 county departments and numerous outside organizations, such as the DEA, local school districts, our colleges and universities, libraries, addiction and recovery centers, local hospitals and other health care providers, and shelters in our communities, as well as those in recovery and those who have lost loved ones,” said Jimino.
”Our coalition works side by side with other community coalitions in the county, including Nopiates, [the Rensselaer Area Drug Awareness Reality Coalition] and the Troy Drug Free Community Coalition, in an effort to combine our resources and share ideas as we focus our efforts in four areas: community education, medical treatment, harm reduction and law enforcement.”