President Obama’s far-reaching stimulus plan and its planned effects on the economy have been the subject of much debate, but so far, the flow of aid can really be better compared to a trickle than a raging river. In Saratoga County, though, that trickle is starting to arrive, and officials hope it is just a precursor of what’s to come.
The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors voted to accept about $400,000 of federal funds into the 2009 county budget at its Tuesday, April 21, meeting, most of which is going to the county’s Employment and Training Administration. That program, targeted at providing job training to younger residents, will receive $553,000 over two years.
It’s some of the first signs of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, a $787 billion economic relief and stimulus package, about $326 billion of which is tax cuts. The remaining monies are earmarked in various amounts for infrastructure improvements, energy development, schools, health care and other areas. That money was distributed to states based on population, to be distributed to local governments. New York is expected to receive about $24.6 billion.
Though it’s earmarked for different types of projects, the actual dispersal of the money is up to state departments, making Gov. David Paterson’s office a proverbial piggy bank.
Saratoga County’s slice of that pie would be tough to measure at this point, said County Administrator David Wickerham.
It’s still somewhat early in the process, he said.
Officials at the county level have already submitted a list of 15 major shovel-ready projects to the governor’s office. The proposals include a request for $25 million to complete the Batchellerville Bridge project in Edinburgh, $5.5 million for sewer system improvements and various highway projects.
`We have not heard back yet. Frankly, we don’t know what the criteria [for selection] is going to be,` continued Wickerham.
The fact that projects must be `shovel ready` can be a limiting factor.
`These are projects that could be done or are ready to go within this current year,` said Arthur Johnson, chairman of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors. `That’s the initial focus, to get construction people to work.`
On Tuesday, April 28, it was announced that the Capital District Transportation Authority would receive $245,000 in ARRA money to build a new bus garage in Saratoga Springs.
Infrastructure does not only constitute roads and bridges, though.
The Saratoga County Water Authority, an entity independent from county government, is also requesting $20 million to extend the end of the soon-to-be-completed county waterline from Malta to Halfmoon, Stillwater and Waterford. Those communities have expressed interest in county water as a safe source while the Environmental Protection Agency dredged the Hudson River for PCBs.
There is a separate tab for clean drinking water-related infrastructure projects in New York totaling $85 million.
Town of Ballston Supervisor Patti Southworth said Ballston has applied to the state for help with removing 21-year-old underground fuel storage tanks on town property and for funds to give a needed new coat of paint to a water tower (a $300,000 to $400,000 project). Money for those projects just isn’t in the town’s coffers.
Saratoga Springs has already put in a separate request for $1 million from the Office for Technology `to create a more sophisticated and up-to-date public safety communication system,` said Supervisor Joanne Yepsen, and also to extend broadband Internet access to not-for-profit entities and under-serviced areas of the city.
One important area where Saratoga County is already receiving relief won’t result in repaved roads of new bridges, but will instead cut down on the county’s biggest expenditures: Medicaid. Adjustments to the Federal Medical Assistance Percentages means up to $8 million the county won’t have to pay over the next two years.
`That’s real money that really has come in, and it’s meant to ease the pain of all the high Medicaid costs that have struck our county, and frankly the rest of the state,` said Wickerham.
New York is one of the few states that pass Medicaid costs on to county governments.
Depending on the type of project, groups or governments have to apply to different state agencies. With differing application requirements and deadlines it can be a logistical nightmare, said Yepsen, who hopes to hold a countywide informational forum to help the county better connect with stimulus money.
`It’s a very complicated issue,` she said. `I’m trying to break through all that and trying to simplify that, and at least put my constituents in touch with the right agencies and offices.`
She hopes to hold a meeting sometime in June.
`The governor’s office has already indicated to me that they’ll be happy to work with me to put this together,` said Yepsen.
She also said she hopes to work closely with newly minted Congressman Scott Murphy, who was sworn in on Wednesday, April 29.
Saratoga County, like all or parts of 10 counties upstate, has been operating without Congressional representation for the past three months, which have been when much of the plan’s details have emerged. Since the money has been distributed to states this has not directly lead to Saratoga missing out on funds, but it has left the entire 20th Congressional District one powerful lobbyist short in the governor’s offices.
`I guess you could say we’re at somewhat of a competitive disadvantage,` said Johnson. `It’s always nice to have a representative.`
Still, it is unlikely that Gov. Paterson will be able to stiff one area while enriching another without suffering an outcry, lobbying or no, said Wickerham.
`The governor has said he’s doing this, and he’s doing it on a straightforward needs basis, and until I see differently I’m going to take it on his word,` he said.“
