ALBANY – Lawmakers in Albany have come to an agreement on a new state budget. On Tuesday Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced an agreement with state Senate and Assembly leaders on the 2012-13 state spending plan. In a media release, Cuomo thanked Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Speaker Sheldon Silver for their bipartisan support. The agreement also guarantees an on-time budget for the second year in a row.
Among the items in the budget is a provision for Medicaid relief – something county leaders throughout the state have been requesting for the past few years. The Medicaid reform will come in the form of a three-year takeover of local contributions. According to the state Division of Budget, Chautauqua County would save $259,035 in the first year. By the fourth year, those savings would total nearly $5 million. Cuomo estimates the Medicaid relief program will save counties and New York City $1.2 billion over five years.
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