SENATOR ANTONACCI REJECTS 2019-20 NEW YORK STATE BUDGET BECAUSE IT INCLUDES NEW TAXES AND FEES, UNFUNDED MANDATES AND DISPROPORTIONATELY FUNDS NEW YORK CITY

          Senator Antonacci voted against the 2019-2020 New York State Budget because it increases taxes and fees for New Yorkers.  It imposes new taxes on internet purchases, rental cars, real estate transactions, and grocery bags. These billions of dollars in new taxes and fees will only worsen the economic climate which just last year caused New York to have the largest overall population loss in the nation.   

          “This budget also includes unfunded mandates such as early voting and e-poll books, with less than 20% of the estimated cost included in the budget. This funding deficit will be passed on to fiscally stressed local governments.  The budget also cuts vital local AIM funding and reduces local funding for Upstate roads while providing increased funding for the MTA,” Antonacci said.

          “It puts the needs of undocumented immigrants ahead of legal State residents by funding a proposal to provide them with free college tuition but does not include an increase in the Tuition Assistance Program which could have provided essential assistance for middle class families struggling with the rising cost of college tuition.  It will also permit cashless bail releasing violent criminals into communities and jeopardizing public safety,” Antonacci continued.

          The budget also underfunds New York Schools while maintaining the Hollywood Film Tax Credit in the amount of $420M annually for films and television shows which film in New York City and would have filmed there without this credit.    

          And, while the budget provides this significant additional funding for New York City, it fails to provide funding for vital SUNY hospitals which provide quality healthcare services to counties in the region in which they are located as well as an economical alternative for New York residents who seek a medical degree.  

         “For these reasons, I could not support this ill-conceived proposal which does very little to help Upstate and disproportionately favors New York City,” concluded Antonacci.

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