City of Rochester
News Release
(Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012) – I want to applaud Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and Lt. Gov. Robert J. Duffy for including a much-needed $28 million Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM), “spin-up” in state aid for the City of Rochester. This action is a stake in the ground to begin addressing a systemic equity imbalance. The Governor is acknowledging the decades-old inequity that has existed in state aid to Rochester and he is taking decisive action.
I would add that the double whammy of Rochester having the highest maintenance of effort (MOE) and the lowest per capita AIM of our upstate cities were also issues that Mayor Duffy often talked about and often went to Albany to fight for change. Well, he’s still talking about them in Albany and apparently has the Governor’s ear. This AIM spin up does not solve our long term per capita problem, but it is a great help this year. Most importantly, it is a clear indication that this governor understands that Rochester clearly has a unique issue with AIM and MOE and that he is committed to helping find a solution.
Gov. Cuomo and Lt. Gov. Duffy listened to our real needs and took steps to address them. Gov. Cuomo said that Bob Duffy could do more for Rochester as Lt. Gov. Well today, he has once again proven that. We are grateful to them both.
Gov. Cuomo has prepared a fiscally responsible budget proposal and I look forward to working with the Gov. and Lt. Gov. to ensure that the state and local governments continue to work for the people of Rochester and all of New York.
Through protecting hard-working New Yorkers and reforming how the state spends taxpayer money, this budget goes a long way toward returning faith in state government and showing the people of this state that government can indeed serve the public. This is a budget that invests in New York in order to create jobs, provides much-needed mandate relief for local governments and puts the state on a path for growth.
-30-
News Media: For further information, please contact Gary Walker at 428-7405.