(3,000 Buffalo, NY) County workers warned of layoffs as hearings begin on [View All]

[UpInArms]

County workers warned of layoffs as hearings begin on budget

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20041113/1063295.asp

The administration of County Executive Joel A. Giambra warned 3,000 county employees Friday that they might be laid off; meanwhile, some lawmakers wrangling with the mess over next year's budget said they want to hear more about a sales tax increase.

Insisting the county can't make ends meet without ratcheting up the sales tax, Giambra has submitted a budget that would eliminate a wide array of services and idle 3,000 employees, most holding jobs not mandated by the state or federal government.

The "scorched earth" budget was intended to rouse a public willingness to let the sales tax in the county rise by 1 percentage point, to 9.25 percent, on transactions as of March 1. It would generate $109 million next year and $125 million each year after that.

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"Unfortunately," the letter said, "as a result of the failure of New York State to implement Medicaid reform or approve the "Medicaid penny,' your job would be eliminated effective Dec. 31." The letter discussed workers' options for continuing health insurance and the benefits available to those choosing to retire.

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