State Budget Protects Hudson Valley Taxpayers: Harckham

PEEKSKILL, NY - From Senator Pete Harckham: Senator Pete Harckham held a press conference in front of the Peekskill City School District’s Administration building earlier today, to discuss the numerous provisions in the new state budget that will provide taxpayer protections for Hudson Valley residents. The total New York State budget for 2019 is $175 billion and it was delivered on time and within the 2 percent spending cap.

“This year’s budget brings about $10 million in increased school aid to the 40th Senate District and restores $1.3 million in AIM funding to towns and villages that had been cut in the executive budget,” said Harckham. “And, with the new Internet sales tax, which will be passed on to municipalities and school districts by our counties, we’re finally going to see our local downtowns and merchants complete on a more level playing field with online retailers.”

The Senator also noted that the state budget made the statewide 2 percent property tax cap permanent for strapped homeowners and restored $500 million in healthcare cuts. A robust economic development capital project fund of $820 million was in the final budget along with $65 million in economic development aid to localities and an additional $90 million in local aid provided by the Empire Development Corporation.

Deb Milone, Executive Director of Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the importance of the permanent property tax cap to the business community. “Making the property tax cap permanent brings a very important element for business stability,” said Milone. “Whether you own the property or rent, knowing that under most circumstances, your annual property tax will not increase by more than 2 percent, helps a business budget and keep costs in line."

Harckham was also joined at the podium by Peekskill’s Mayor Andre Rainey, Town of Yorktown Supervisor Ilan Gilbert, Peekskill Schools Superintendent David Mauricio and Jessica Vecchiarelli, homeowner and Ossining Schools advocate. Rainey, Mauricio and Vecchiarelli thanked the Senator for providing their school districts with significant increases in school aid. Peekskill schools received a $2.4 million increase and the Ossining School District received an increase of $3 million, the largest percentage increase in the state.

Gilbert noted that the Town of Yorktown had $176,777 in AIM funding restored, thanks to the final budget.