Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R,C,I-Deerpark) is sounding the alarm on $59 million in proposed cuts to Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM) funding included as part of this year’s Executive Budget. Many upstate towns and villages rely on this funding to provide essential services to residents at the local level.

“These cuts would have disastrous repercussions for our towns and villages and hinder their ability to provide efficient services, maintain benefits for employees and respond effectively to crises like snow storms, power outages and infrastructure failures’, Brabenec said.

AIM funding has not been increased since the 2008-09 fiscal year, and unfunded mandates handed down by Albany continue to consume 99 cents of every dollar local governments raise through the property-tax levy.

“Between struggling to stay within the 2 percent tax cap and paying for unfunded Albany mandates like Medicaid, towns and villages may be forced to either raise taxes or significantly slash their services – neither of which we want to see,” Brabenec continued. “I vehemently oppose these cuts and will work diligently to see them restored in this year’s enacted budget!”

Call your local State Assemblyman and State Senator and tell them to fully fund our towns and villages in this year’s budget!