The Peru Gazette

“I’ve been a proponent of making the property tax cap permanent and am pleased to see that in the final agreement.  However, adding to the financial stress of local governments, as this budget does through mandates, is counterproductive.

“And while this year, as in years past, there are many worthwhile programs and services in the budget, I am dismayed to see funding for Lyme disease cut out given the Legislature’s previous bipartisan support and the very obvious need of sustaining ongoing research and public outreach.

“Certainly the proposal to close three state prisons is a big concern.  Double bunking and crowded dormitories make our prisons less safe for inmates and the correction officers.  And, no one can dispute that our region has suffered more than any other by prison closures as shuttered facilities sit empty years later with little hope of any kind of economic activity.  I will be pushing hard to ensure we are not targeted once again.

“Last year, we were successful in funding many critical programs and services in the budget, but did so while keeping out new tax increases. Unfortunately, this new budget further reinforces New York State’s high tax reputation by increasing taxes over 1 billion dollars.”