The Olean Times-Herald reports on the fiscal black hole known as the Great Valley Residential Center (see earlier post "State Supports Youth Center Closings"). According to the article, the center hasn't seen a resident in five months. All the while the center chews away at an annual budget of $1,700,000. How could one possibly justify such a huge expense for such an underutilized facility? Blame the state. Darcy Wells, public relations director for the New York State Public Employees Federation, cries foul:''We feel strongly that OCFS (Office of Child and Family Services) deliberately emptied the facilities now proposed to close in order to point at them, empty, and declare that it's a waste of taxpayer dollars."
As a compromise, the state could close the facility and continue to pay the employees to do nothing. After all, if there are 10 full-time employees, and we pay them hush money of $50,000/yr., the County would save $1,200,000 annually, and the employees could sit at home and watch soaps all day. Its a "win-win".
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