Local governments view Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent budget plan as a promising step in improving their relationship with the state. The New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) has lauded the governor’s efforts to fund improvement projects for a number of communities.
“She has reached out to the counties. Late last summer and into the fall, we spent a lot of time with the governor and her administration, including the budget director and state agencies, making our case to either build out some key programs, or invest in new ones,” said NYSAC’s executive director Stephen Acquario, according to the NY State of Politics blog.
Hochul has included provisions in her budget that local governments have long advocated for, like establishing a platform to collect taxes from Airbnb and VRBO rentals. NYSAC points out the governor’s increase in healthcare investments, doubling of money for veterans services at the county-level, and the investment in county highways.
Acquario is hoping the governor tackles the state’s Distressed Hospital Fund next, which allows the state to take local sales taxes to pay for hospital operating costs. NYSAC has called for an end to this program.
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