Southern Tier fears major job losses by state

The Southern Tier could lose 684 jobs if the state closes the Broome Developmental Center, part of a plan to consolidate the state's psychiatric centers.

The Press and Sun-Bulletin in Binghamton reported today that the center is one of the region's largest employers. The facility is one of four expected to close in a few years.

“That’s a huge hit to the local economy here,” Broome County Executive Debbie Preston told the paper. “You’re talking 684 employees. I look at it as 684 families and $30 million annually out of our local economy.”

Sen. Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton, this week announced a bill to suspend the closures until at least 2015.

Libous told Gannett's Albany Bureau on Monday that he believes Gov. Andrew Cuomo is open to alternatives.

"I’m hoping that there’s an alternative to what they’ve proposed,” Libous said in a phone interview.

“I’m hoping--speaking for the Southern Tier region--that we have some presence. Everything is designed to cut us out. It wipes out Elmira and Binghamton, and that’s not right.”