Recent changes in the mandated Medical Transportation System by the Cuomo Administration has severely impacted the financial viability of the Tioga Bus Transportation and will result in an increase in local tax dollars if the service continues.
For the past 20 years, Tioga County has provided a rural transportation system paid for by Medicaid dollars. Under the new Medicaid System, the New York State Department of Health has contracted with a private vendor to manage the transportation system. They are not using the county's bus system, but are sending people in cabs. The change has seen the Medicaid transports in the system drop from 993 trips per month to eight trips per month.
The cost to the county, even with increasing the rates and eliminating some routes leaves the county with an estimated bill of $370,000 per year on the local tax base. Since the state failed to adequately advise the county of this change until late in the year, no money was budgeted for 2014. That translates into a 1.7 percent tax increase.
With Medicaid beneficiaries no longer riding the bus, that leaves approximately 200 people per day using the bus system. Roughly 75 of these riders are commuting to and from work. So the question is, considering these ridership numbers, how much is the county willing to pay?
The Legislature doesn't want to make a decision without reaching out to the citizens of Tioga County. They need to hear from you as this is a taxpayer issue, not just a transportation issue.
Contact your legislator or the Tioga County Legislative office and share your feedback. The information is listed on the county website under Government at www.tiogacountyny.com.