Erie County is saying ‘If Broome doesn’t want the state money for a drug treatment program, we’ll take it.’

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncartz sent a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo saying if the Broome County Legislature doesn’t act to accept funding to open a treatment and rehabilitation facility at the former Broome Developmental Center, the Western New York County would welcome the opportunity to develop a treatment center itself.

Broome Legislative Chairman Daniel Reynolds has said there were many unanswered questions about the budgeting for the program and there had been a lack of a needs study.  Reynolds said there would be a Committee-of-the-Whole meeting before the legislature would vote on accepting the state money to start the program and for operating expenses.

A public hearing December 5 resulted in mainly positive comments on developing the center while some questioned the effectiveness of a program.

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar, who has penned the proposal for the local treatment center, said he was not surprised by Poloncartz stepping forward to ask for the state funding.

Poloncartz says Erie County has an Opioid Epidemic Task Force and has created a 24-hour addiction hotline.

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