Local and state officials discuss New York’s 2020 budget
(Photo by Zachary Meseck)
NORWICH – Representatives of New York State visited Norwich’s Classic Car Museum on Wednesday, and described the state’s budget and its focus on topics like legalizing marijuana, helping small businesses, and combating the housing crisis.
According to New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian Stratton, New York State’s proposed budget totals approximately $178 billion dollars in spending.
Stratton met with Commerce Chenango Executive Director Kerri Green, City of Norwich Mayor Shawn Sastri and Norwich Classic Car Museum Director Robert Jeffery among others following his presentation on the proposed 2020 budget.
Funds would be funneled through categories including $33 billion into climate, $275 billion into infrastructure, $28.5 billion into education, $1.2 billion into economic development, $20 billion into homelessness and housing, along with $6.1 billion into public safety.
“2020 is going to be a year of clear vision and bold action,” said Stratton. “We have made tremendous progress in the last 11 years, and that is going to continue with our upcoming budget.”
Stratton spoke on the categories, and said issues like climate change can’t wait, and that New York State is head of national trends when it comes to being eco-friendly.
“Global average temperatures have done nothing but go up,” he said. “Everyone needs to understand that climate change is real, and we have a 33 billion dollar plan to make a difference.”
He added that New York State has the greatest financial commitment to facing climate change in the United States.
Another topic discussed was a growing tax break for the middle class, and small businesses that has been proposed in the budget.
“More than 115,000 Southern Tier residents will benefit from our tax reduction on the middle class,” he said. “Small businesses have also received a tax break, dropping from 6.5 to a 4 percent rate.”
He added that $100 million was also allocated towards the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant, which the City of Norwich applied for last year.
Fighting the opioid crisis is another goal of the proposed budget, with more than six billion dollars being invested in public safety, and the recent enactment of criminal justice reforms.
“The governor is going to introduce legislation to make fentanyl a controlled substance,” said Stratton. “We’re also continuing our work towards legalizing recreational marijuana for adult use.”
He said the criminal justice reforms continue to be a way to keep people who shouldn’t be in jail out of jail, but that there may be need for some reforms.
“There have been some unintended consequences,” he added.
According to New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian Stratton, New York State’s proposed budget totals approximately $178 billion dollars in spending.
Stratton met with Commerce Chenango Executive Director Kerri Green, City of Norwich Mayor Shawn Sastri and Norwich Classic Car Museum Director Robert Jeffery among others following his presentation on the proposed 2020 budget.
Funds would be funneled through categories including $33 billion into climate, $275 billion into infrastructure, $28.5 billion into education, $1.2 billion into economic development, $20 billion into homelessness and housing, along with $6.1 billion into public safety.
“2020 is going to be a year of clear vision and bold action,” said Stratton. “We have made tremendous progress in the last 11 years, and that is going to continue with our upcoming budget.”
Stratton spoke on the categories, and said issues like climate change can’t wait, and that New York State is head of national trends when it comes to being eco-friendly.
“Global average temperatures have done nothing but go up,” he said. “Everyone needs to understand that climate change is real, and we have a 33 billion dollar plan to make a difference.”
He added that New York State has the greatest financial commitment to facing climate change in the United States.
Another topic discussed was a growing tax break for the middle class, and small businesses that has been proposed in the budget.
“More than 115,000 Southern Tier residents will benefit from our tax reduction on the middle class,” he said. “Small businesses have also received a tax break, dropping from 6.5 to a 4 percent rate.”
He added that $100 million was also allocated towards the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant, which the City of Norwich applied for last year.
Fighting the opioid crisis is another goal of the proposed budget, with more than six billion dollars being invested in public safety, and the recent enactment of criminal justice reforms.
“The governor is going to introduce legislation to make fentanyl a controlled substance,” said Stratton. “We’re also continuing our work towards legalizing recreational marijuana for adult use.”
He said the criminal justice reforms continue to be a way to keep people who shouldn’t be in jail out of jail, but that there may be need for some reforms.
“There have been some unintended consequences,” he added.
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