By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – State Senator Dale Volker and Erie County Executive Joel Giambra are not seeing eye to eye on Medicaid costs.
Giambra has continuously blamed state mandated medicaid costs for the County's fiscal mess. And this year, he is making sure taxpayers how much is spent.
The County property tax bills, recently mailed to residents, indicated that 22% of the property tax increase was due to Medicaid.
Senator Volker issued a letter to his constituents saying the statement is "erroneous" and misleading.
Volker said it is "grossly inaccurate" to blame Medicaid for spiraling county taxes. But Giambra defended the County statement. And, instead, he turned the tables asking Volker how much he paid for his mailing.
"I would like to know how much it cost taxpayers for him to send that letter out. And how much he has spent in his entire career, as a senator, with franking privileges, and how many millions of dollars he may have spent on that type of mailing at taxpayer expense," said Giambra.
While Giambra said he respects Volker, he believes the Senator should examine his own statements. Giambra said other counties use the method of displaying Medicaid costs on its tax bills.
He said there is nothing wrong with posting the information in that format.
"The Senator and others are attempting to deceive the public by saying they have fixed the Medicaid problem. That is not accurate," said Giambra. "They have reduced the amount of increase that counties have to pay every year."
But Volker defends the state's effort. His letter listed what he refers to as the real facts. Volker said that the County's own Medicaid numbers show a reduction of more than $11-million.
Giambra does admit that the state has been helpful, but said the Medicaid cap didn't generate enough savings.
"But it did not fix the problem. And for anyone to suggest they fixed the problem is just not genuine," said Giambra.
But Volker said the state has been willing to do all it can to help Erie County.