WHITE PLAINS – County executives from Mid-Hudson counties joined forces on Monday to call on Governor Cuomo to sign the indigent defense bill before the end of the year.
Counties must foot the bill for legal services for those who cannot afford them. The counties want the state to pick up the tab.
Among those who spoke out and called for the governor’s action was Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell.
“Indigent legal services is a state mandate that has been shifted down to the counties and while we struggle with basically a zero tax cap, the increased costs for indigent services put a tremendous burden on our county residents and taxpayers,” Odell said. “There is a bill on the governor’s desk right now; it’s a non-partisan bill.”
Joining in the call for the state to pick up the tab for those costs were Westchester Executive Robert Astorino, Dutchess Executive Marcus Molinaro, Orange Executive Steven Neuhaus and Rockland Executive Edwin Day.
