Senator Daphne Jordan: Governor Cuomo’s 2019-20 Executive Budget’s proposed elimination of AIM funding for certain communities would hurt local governments and local taxpayers

Albany, NY – New York State Senator Daphne Jordan (R,C,I,Ref-Halfmoon) today proudly stood with local governments and local taxpayers by calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo to reverse his Executive Budget’s proposed cuts to the Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM) program, saying the cuts will hurt communities and taxpayers. Attached with this news release is Senator Jordan’s correspondence to Governor Cuomo urging immediate reconsideration of his proposed AIM program cuts.


As noted by the New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials (NYCOM), Governor Cuomo’s 2019-20 Executive Budget proposes the elimination of AIM funding for those villages whose AIM amount is less than two percent of their local fiscal year 2017 expenditures. Governor Cuomo’s proposal would take a total of $16.4 million away from 480 of the 531 villages across the State. The Governor’s proposed AIM program cuts also would result in $42.73 million less for towns.


The impact of the Governor’s proposed elimination of AIM funding on villages can be viewed at https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy20/exec/local/aim/fy20aim-villages.pdf. The breakdown of the Governor’s proposed AIM program cuts, and their specific impact on towns, can be viewed on the attached chart.


“Governor Cuomo’s proposed budget cuts amount to him taking AIM from – and aim at – local governments and local taxpayers. It’s disappointing that the Governor’s trying to balance the state budget on the backs of local taxpayers and local communities. I actually served in town government and know that localities do more with less and have already tightened their belts – and then some. The Governor’s proposed AIM funding cuts amount to a shortsighted policy warranting immediate reconsideration. My Senate Republican colleagues and I will fight to restore the Governor’s proposed AIM cuts,” Senator Jordan concluded.

Editor’s Note: Attached with this news release is Senator Jordan’s updated letter to Governor Cuomo in opposition to his proposed AIM program cuts, along with a chart outlining how the Governor’s proposed AIM program cuts would affect towns.
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