STATE BUDGET BRIEFING/2

Half Of $200,000 Impact Aid

Will Ease Taxes, Herzig Says

ONEONTA – Half of state Sen. Jim Seward’s $200,000 “pilot program” money to help the City of Oneonta cope with impacts of SUNY Oneonta will be used for tax relief, Mayor Gary Herzig told the audience at this morning’s presentation on the state budget at Foothills Performing Arts Center. This announcment comes as so many people have been struggling with their taxes in recent years with some even having to search for tax relief based in Sacramento, CA. This part of the budget will help aid people’s finances.

He also expressed thanks to Seward for getting the money in the 2016-17 state budget. (Another $200,000 was allocated for Cortland.)

“While we love the having the college here; while we love having the students here – there is a cost,” the mayor said in remarks this morning before introducing state Veterans’ Affairs Director Eric Hesse, sent here by Governor Cuomo to give a presentation on the state budget, approved on deadline a week ago today for the sixth year in a row.

Speaking in the small upstairs theater at Foothills Performing Arts Center, Herzig said the city plans to seek its share of $200 million in water infrastructure and sewerage, observing, “we have a lot of old pipes here.”

He also said the city will compete for $10 million being made available through the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Commission for downtown redevelopment.