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Walczyk calls for restoration of AIM funding for St. Lawrence County towns

Posted 2/13/19

Assemblyman Mark Walczyk (R,C,I,Ref-Watertown) and nearly forty Town Supervisors and Mayors from across have sent a letter to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo outlining the need for a complete restoration of Aid …

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Walczyk calls for restoration of AIM funding for St. Lawrence County towns

Posted

Assemblyman Mark Walczyk (R,C,I,Ref-Watertown) and nearly forty Town Supervisors and Mayors from across have sent a letter to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo outlining the need for a complete restoration of Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) funding in the final state budget.

Nine of the 11 villages and 27 of the 32 townships in St. Lawrence County are slated to have aid in one state program cut in the 2019-20 budget being prepared in Albany, amounting to more the $1 million.

The cuts to the Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) program as proposed would amount to a total of $1,056,052, according to figures from the state Division of the Budget. That is $600,337 from towns in the county and $455,715 from villages.

Those figures do not include cuts to the customary state funding for road repair and for help with severe winter conditions that are also part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal.

The biggest AIM cuts would be to the villages of Canton ($142,615), Massena ($132,671), and Potsdam ($111,684).

Cuts to town AIM allotments include $175,546 in Massena, $53,881 in Norfolk, $42,494 in Stockholm, $32,713 in Fine, $28,883 in Lisbon, $27,405 in Louisville, and $20,115 in Russell.

This slash in funding would put local officials at odds when they begin to balance their respective budgets and decide what services for residents of Northern New York may be on the chopping block, according to Walczyk.

In response, Walczyk reached out to the Governor’s office urging them to restore the funding to our communities.

“Since the Governor proposed a seven percent cut to AIM funding in his budget proposal, I’ve heard from numerous officials, all of whom have expressed their concern with the executive’s proposed cuts to AIM, which allows cities, villages and towns to provide necessary services that residents rely on,” said Assemblyman Walczyk. “I’m thrilled to have this bipartisan support from our local leaders from across Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties. Together, we’re urging the Governor to restore these critical AIM funds, which will help keep the Front Yard of America a great place to live, work and raise a family for generations to come.”

“We depend on AIM funding in the state budget to help us provide the key services Sackets Harbor residents depend on day in and day out,” said Molly Reilly, Mayor of Sackets Harbor. “I’m pleased to add my name to this letter to Gov. Cuomo to help hammer home how important this funding is to the North Country.”

“When funding for programs like AIM get slashed, it puts local governments, like Louisville, in a difficult position as we work to balance our budget and ensure that essential services can be delivered to town residents,” said Larry Legault, Town of Louisville Supervisor. “I’d like to thank Assemblyman Walczyk for his efforts to restore this funding and I’m proud to have added my name to this letter.”