Governor Cuomo's Executive Budget demonstrates his continued commitment to helping local governments address our fiscal challenges. I applaud the Governor's refusal to raise taxes. As the Mayor of a border community investing in downtown revitalization I know Suffern businesses can't compete if state taxes go up.
I passed a budget under the property tax cap last year and will do it again this year. The Governor's sales tax reform is a victory for home rule and his pension proposals will relieve the short term stress on municipal budgets from aberrantly high contributions. The Legislature should not otherwise tinker with the tax cap, which is the most effective tool for property tax stability New York has seen in decades. Local governments, and Rockland County in particular, must take responsibility for modernizing outdated and inefficient bureaucracies and take the initiative in consolidating duplicated services.
I fully support the overdue raise in the minimum wage and commend Senator Carlucci and Assemblymembers Jaffee, Zebrowski, Rabbitt and Skoufis for their partnership with the Governor and leadership in New York Rising.
