Sullivan County Treasurer Nancy Buck said in an email on Monday that she actually had “heard about the proposed cuts before Assemblywoman Gunther and I went down to her office and told her -- and she started making phone calls right away. So my reaction is/was total disgust in hurting the Towns and Villages especially expecting them to stay within a tax cap. I live in Roscoe, so I am already peeved that the Governor didn't assist the three schools that had issues and that will be a huge impact on the taxpayers. I don't think he really understands the impact the Towns, Villages and Roscoe School District will feel from this and I really hope our local representatives can get this reversed. “ The SullivanTimes a lso asked Buck what, if anything, the County can do to help. “As far as helping the towns, I do think that the County needs to continue researching ways in assisting our municipalities, even if that means sales tax. That is hard for me to say, because the County is receiving a raise in our sales tax, but a lot of it has been anticipated in the budgets, so it really is not a huge cash flow increase. Because of the additional sales tax I have not had to borrow TANS (tax anticipation notes) and that has saved the County money in interest and the expense of borrowing money, plus it helps with Moody's and S&P ratings to borrow less.” Buck added that as far as the sales tax, she was referring to how much increased sales tax revenue the County is currently collecting and “sharing a portion of the increase with the towns.” Luis Alvarez, chair of the County Legislature who has enjoyed a close relationship with the governor, said at press time is meeting with the legislators today (Tuesday) to talk further about the AIM cuts and related financial issues facing the localities. In a January 29 letter to Cuomo asking him to reconsider the cuts, Town of Liberty Supervisor Brian Rourke said that “for the past five years our town has answered your call to contain municipal spending and stay well within the tax cap by making tough decisions and sacrifices. This year, we have relied on AIM funding in the amount of $40,394 to do so. Without continued support through the AIM funding, it is likely our community will be forced to increase taxes, which is the exact opposite result intended by the AIM program and tax cap legislation. Your office has described AIM Funding as a “minor funding cut” however, smaller townships and villages depend on this evenue to avoid tax hikes.” Alvarez sent a letter to the governor on January 30 that said: “The proposal to eliminate Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) funding for all but the most financially strapped communities could cost Sullivan County’s 15 townships and 6 villages more than $700,000. While that may seem like a trivial amount, it is not insignificant for our towns and villages, who rely on this funding to make ends meet. The elimination of AIM in the middle of the fiscal year would leave our municipalities with terrible choices in the long term (exceeding the property tax cap, permanently reducing staff and services, etc.).” Alvarez concluded that “AIM funding has historically provided a crucial flow of unrestricted State aid to Sullivan County’s villages and towns. Their budget cannot endure the elimination of these monies. I ask you to not move forward with this provision of the proposed 2019 State Budget. The impacts would be too severe to justify the savings. “
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