GUILFORD – Assemblyman Clifford Crouch addressed concerns about state budget cuts and natural gas drilling at a Town of Guilford board meeting earlier this week.

“I thank the board for their indulgence in putting me on the schedule,” said Crouch, before a standing-room-only crowd at the Town Hall and Highway Garage Wednesday night.

Addressing concerns about budget cuts, Crouch said the state needs to start by “sweeping out its own corners.”

“I have seen administrative levels grow in the last year and a half,” said the assemblyman. “I couldn’t support something that would push that back to the taxpayers.” Crouch said he would rather see positions eliminated at the state level before cuts are made to town and county funding.

Crouch condemned the previous governorship for attempting to “spend its way through” problems, but commended current governor David Paterson for recognizing that this method wasn’t working.

The assemblyman then turned his attention to what many consider to be the “hottest issue locally:” Natural gas exploration and drilling.