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News
from Assemblyman 123th Assembly District Gary D. Finch
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 1, 2007 CONTACT: (518) 455-5981
Statement from Assemblyman Finch on Budget This budget is too large, with spending levels of approximately $121 billion. I believe more could be done to incorporate cost-savings measures; however, I could not in good conscience vote against this budget for several reasons. This budget will provide our schools with landmark levels of funding, which I believe is critical to helping our teachers to educate and inspire students to graduate; improving graduation rates is vital to encouraging youth to become productive members of society. Acknowledging the heavy property tax burden our homeowners shoulder, there are provisions in this budget to provide property tax relief in the form of rebate checks at levels 30 to 60 percent higher than last year. Equally important is helping local health care facilities provide adequate delivery options for our citizens. In light of this, the budget restores many of the cuts the governor proposed for health care funding. These restorations will help struggling upstate hospitals, such as Auburn Memorial Hospital, as well as our local nursing homes and other health care facilities throughout the region. As a past trustee and continuing supporter of Cayuga Community College, I am happy that the budget provides $150 per full-time equivalent for places such as Cayuga and Tompkins-Cortland Community colleges. A few modest tax cuts will benefit businesses that aim to save tens of millions for manufacturers and employers across our state. The inclusion of $30 million in subsidies to dairy farmers – an important industry in the 123rd Assembly District – was another reason why I felt it was right to support this budget. I am pleased that the governor’s prison closure commission was not included in this budget, a measure that I was against on the ground that it did not reflect the reality of the demands placed on our state’s correctional system.
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