Minority Leader and Erie County Legislator John Mills sent a letter to Erie County Legislature Chairman Tim Meyers requesting meetings with representatives from the Erie County Water Authority and Erie County Medical Center Corporation (ECMCC) to receive updates on their operations, finances, challenges and future plans. This request comes following concerns discussed during mid-year budget hearings.
At those hearings, legislators heard about an unexpected $5 million overpayment and payments made on outstanding utility fund liability as it relates to ECMC. However, there was some uncertainty about the future in terms of how the hospital would manage changes in federal policy, specifically DSH (Disproportionate Share Hospital) payments, which are a type of supplemental payment made to hospitals that serve a large number of low-income patients, primarily those enrolled in Medicaid, and IGT (Intergovernmental Transfer) payments, where public hospitals transfer funds to a state agency to help fund the Medicaid program.
As for the Erie County Water Authority, several water main breaks have been reported during the past two weeks, with one near Union Road and George Urban Boulevard closing the roadway for days. The ECWA is in the process of executing a multi-year capital plan to improve the aging infrastructure, and Legislator Mills is seeking an update on those plans.
“It’s important to ensure ECMC is prepared for possible changes going forward, while ensuring they continue to provide needed care for this community. As for the Erie County Water Authority, we have an aging infrastructure that needs updating. It’s important to bring representatives in so that they can keep us updated on their capital improvement program,” said Legislator Mills.
