The Peru Gazette

State Senator Betty Little said the new state budget includes numerous priorities important to upstate and the North Country region.

“First and foremost, I am both relieved and grateful that the new state budget does not change the current method of state payments to localities for taxes on state owned lands,” said Little.  “The executive budget had included a proposal to change the system from ad valorem to a payment in lieu of taxes, PILOTS.   Local governments, environmentalists and many others were unequivocal in their united and vocal opposition to this plan.  All were concerned that it would have overturned a more than century-old practice clearly defined in statute and would have unfairly cost local taxpayers.  Getting this out of the budget was a priority for me and I am very pleased we’ve gotten the result so many wanted.

“The new state budget also does not include increases in taxes or fees.  For taxpayers and small businesses, in particular, it is important the state holds the line on revenue raisers for affordability, the health of the economy and for job creation.

“The State Budget includes a large increase in school funding.  The increase in foundation aid over what was proposed in the executive budget will be especially helpful to our schools now in the process of formulating their own budget plans.

“The budget also provides increased funding for community colleges and other higher education programs.

“I am pleased there is funding for numerous health care initiatives, including $1 million for Lyme and Tick-borne disease given the increased rate of exposure we are seeing in the North Country and Adirondacks.”

Little said the budget funds numerous local initiatives she identified as priorities, including:

$250,000 for the Adirondack Lakes Survey Corporation;
$300,000 for the Visitor Interpretive Centers (VICs) at Paul Smiths College and SUNY ESF in Newcomb;
$600,000 for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program;
$225,000 for the New York Maple Producers Association;
$700,000 for a Lake George Parks Commission capital project;
$500,000 for autism regional centers including SUNY Plattsburgh;
$50,000 for the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern New York;
$310,000 for Franklin County for Native American land claim property tax reimbursement;
$250,000 for North Elba costs associated with maintenance of ORDA facilities;
$200,000 for the Adirondack North Country Association for economic development;
$150,000 for the North American Center of Excellence for Transportation in Plattsburgh;
$400,000 for the North American Logger Training School at Paul Smith’s College;
$100,000 for the North Country Behavioral Network for suicide prevention programs;
$185,000 for Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer to Peer counseling in Warren and Washington counties.

“I want to thank all of the individuals and groups who traveled to Albany the past two months to advocate.  Their time and effort to make the case for what they wanted in the budget, or didn’t want, is something I greatly appreciate.”

Daniel E. Mac Entee, Director of Communications
Office of Senator Betty Little
310 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247
(p) 518.455.2811
(f) 518.426.6873