No sooner did Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Assemblyman Sheldon Silver and state Sen. Dean Skelos get in front of cameras in Albany to announce a tentative budget agreement were business leaders ready with comments on the $132.5 billion deal.
“I like the fact he (Cuomo) is taking a strong stance, but we”™ll have to see how this plays out in relation to our schools and property taxes. It”™s too soon to say what the overall effect will be,” said Joyce Minard, president of the New Paltz Regional Chamber of Commerce. Overall, she hopes it will help her members build their businesses and encourage a better business atmosphere in a state known for its unfriendly business atmosphere.
John D”™Ambrosio, president of the Orange County chamber, the largest in the region, said in a statement, “There”™s a very simple reason why we support Gov. Cuomo”™s budget; because absolutely no more taxes can be levied on the residents and businesses of New York state. The road to bankruptcy is fraught with good intentions, but heading down this same road will bring nothing but bad results. …we”™ve also come out in support of the Committee to Save New York. Although it may be painful, Gov. Cuomo”™s budget is a giant step toward fiscal sanity in Albany.”
Rockland Business Association president Al Samuels was pleased to see Cuomo “standing his ground.”
“He showed true leadership and strength in dealing with the Legislature. Do I agree with everything in it? No … but you can”™t advocate for change and accept only the change you want.”
Charles North, president of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce, which just grew to close to 1,900 members when the Southern Dutchess Chamber was merged into it, said he could not get into specifics ”“ not yet, anyway. “I haven”™t read through the entire budget. I”™m just glad everyone is going in the same direction and know that some of the things Cuomo wanted to do happened. He has reduced spending. That”™s definitely a step in the right direction.”
Jennifer Maher, chairwoman of the Putnam County Chamber, said,
“I am apprehensively optimistic that we”™ve turned a corner and will see the state fostering better relationships between businesses and government. I think Governor Cuomo and his team have given strong consideration for our state, which is commendable. It certainly is not an easy task.”
Westchester County Association President Bill Mooney praised the fiscal restraint in the budget but decried the omission of a property tax cap and the lack of alleviating state mandates that drive up healthcare and pension costs.
“We are pleased to see the prospect of an on-time balanced budget for New York state that closes a projected $10 billion deficit without raising taxes. …but the next step must include looking at key cost drivers within this $132.5 billion budget nut, which are compensation issues such as pension and health care costs. Without alleviating the state mandates driving these costs,” Mooney said in a statement, “the burden on local municipalities and school districts, which ultimately lands on the taxpayer, cannot be sustained.”
Marsha Gordon, president of the Business Council of Westchester, said in a statement, “The announcement of a tentative agreement on the state budget is welcome news to all New Yorkers. We commend Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for agreeing to a budget that reduces overall spending and closes a $10 billion budget gap without raising taxes and increasing the state”™s debt.”
And politicians from both sides of the aisle seemed to agree that the new budget was a step in the right direction for the Legislature. Sens. John Bonacic (R-New Hope) and Kevin Cahill (D-Kingston) may often disagree, but on this issue, both praised the teamwork their respective parties did to get the budget done on time and to meet the expectations Cuomo set out for the members. U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey decried the cuts made in education when he attended a meeting with SUNY students in New Paltz March 29.
Questions remain among chamber presidents, business owners and rank and file New Yorkers. Without a property tax cap in place and unfunded mandates remaining on the table, counties will still be faced with meeting their own budgets without help from Albany.
Said Samuels: “We”™ll see how it plays out. I do stand behind the governor and support what he”™s trying to do. I believe this is good for New York and a good beginning. Problems are not going to be solved overnight. …he”™s jumped a major hurdle ”“ getting the Legislature to work together in the right direction.”
