Assemblyman Tom O’Mara (R,I,C-Big Flats) tonight voted against the governor’s latest budget extender because it shifts over $70 million onto local governments across upstate New York without providing mandate relief, which will lead to higher property taxes. 

            “A third of the governor’s proposed ‘cuts’ included in tonight’s budget extender are merely a cost shift to our local governments.  These unfunded mandates have the potential to drive up local property taxes, placing an additional burden on already beleaguered property taxpayers,” O’Mara said.  “Instead of passing fiscally irresponsible budget extenders, the Democrat majorities have given free reign to the governor to dictate the state budget.”

            Assemblyman O’Mara continued to argue that the piecemeal approach to passing the budget through extenders will have devastating consequences for New Yorkers. 

            “We need to enact a state budget that has both long-term and short-term spending reductions and savings to ensure the future prosperity of the state,” said O’Mara. “By failing to act on a state budget, the Democrat Majority leaders are allowing an un-elected, lame-duck governor to dictate the entire state’s fiscal plan, not only to the Legislature but to the entire state.”

“Tonight, instead of passing a state budget that eliminates unfunded state mandates and enacts long-term spending reductions, the Assembly Majority passed a bill to tell New York City how many garbage cans they need and where to place them—yet another mandate. It is unbelievable,” said O’Mara.  “We need to pass a budget now and stop the governor from dictating the state’s entire fiscal policy.”