Schuyler will lay off three employees

Jan 06, 2010 at 04:14 pm by Observer-Review


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Schuyler will lay off three employees

WATKINS GLEN—Three community service employees will be laid off as a result of reduced spending in the 2010 $45.2 million budget. Schuyler County Legislators approved these cuts at their year-end meeting Dec. 28.
A previous resolution approved by the legislators allowed a staff social worker position to be eliminated due to financial restraints, effective Dec. 31. A staff social worker position will however, become available Feb. 21, 2010 due to a retirement. The employee who was affected by this eliminated position will be eligible to be reassigned to the vacant position beginning Feb. 22, 2010. The legislators agreed to allow the layoff date for the staff social worker to be moved to Feb. 21, therefore eliminating the position, but still allowing the employee to remain until the retirement occurs.
The new resolution will still lay-off three employees in the Community Services Department, effective Dec. 31. One senior staff social worker, one keyboard specialist, and one staff social worker will all be laid-off, but the staff social worker position will not be laid-off until Feb. 21.
Legislators also approved a resolution calling for Medicaid relief. In 2005 a local Medicaid “cap” was put in place by the governor and state legislature to limit annual Medicaid growth. This “cap” acts as reform to the way New York finances its Medicaid program which gives counties a level of stability and predictability that will benefit local taxpayers for the future. It will shield taxpayers from the impact of excessive Medicaid growth at the federal and state levels.
As New York’s Medicaid program has evolved, however, it has become over expensive, inefficient and unable to adapt to changing health care. This program needs to be reformed into a modern, patient driven system that ensures public integrity, improves patient outcomes and reduces overall program costs.
Schuyler County Legislators approved to continue the Local Medicaid Cap enacted in the 2005-2006 state budget to help stabilize county budgets and benefit from the impact that the program has had on local real property taxes.
The legislators also approved a number of contract renewals and authorized new contracts and agreements involving Schuyler County Corrections, child protection attorney services, health services, and a real property tax agency.
The first regular meeting of the Schuyler County Legislature in the new year, will be at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11.
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