Mayors from across New York in Albany today: increase state funding for cities and villages for first time in 15 years
Advocates for municipal state aid wrap up statewide tour in Albany; together with Association of Towns, call for Governor and State Legislature to increase AIM funding in this year’s State Budget
ALBANY, N.Y. (March 20, 2024) — The New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials (NYCOM), representing cities and villages across the Empire State, wrapped up its statewide tour at the State Capitol in Albany, urging the Governor and the State Legislature to increase unrestricted aid to cities and villages for the first time in 15 years.
Joined by the Association of Towns (AOT), mayors, municipal officials, town supervisors, and town officials echoed the sentiments shared throughout the state that this is the year that Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) funding needs to be increased once and for all. This funding affects the state’s cities, villages, and towns.
This funding has not increased in 15 years — directly affecting the ability of local governments to respond to the growing demands on public safety and other essential municipal services. The executive budget proposal calls for $715 million in funding. From the one-house budget bills, the Senate has proposed an increase of $210 million over the executive budget proposal, with the Assembly’s proposal calling for an increase of at least $100 million.
NYCOM embarked on a statewide tour starting in February to bring attention to the issue, visiting Rockville Centre, White Plains, Rochester, and Buffalo.
“It’s vitally important that all parts of our state were part of this effort in order to drive home to our governor and the state legislature that increasing AIM funding is important to our cities and villages, and ultimately our residents,” said Albany Mayor Kathy M. Sheehan, who serves as NYCOM President. “Cities, villages, and towns across New York State deliver for our residents every day, and securing additional state aid will expand our efforts to enhance public safety and invest in our aging infrastructure.”
“I implore Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers statewide for an increase to the city’s AIM Funding for the first time in 12 years,” said Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown. “Since 2012, inflation has increased by nearly 45 percent and AIM disbursement has gone from 35 percent to 28 percent of the city’s revenue, leaving the taxpayers to cover the bill in the shortfall. With once in a lifetime aid to cities coming to an end, a continuation of the current funding system as it could be catastrophic to Buffalo and its residents.”
“These funds help us provide for public safety and essential services, such as safe roads, safe water and the infrastructure that makes that possible,” said Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans. “We call on our state leaders to maintain their commitment to this important source of direct and unrestricted aid to cities and villages by increasing payments to reflect our rising costs.”
“I’m proud to join a bipartisan coalition of mayors throughout the state who are working day in and day out to bring safer, cleaner and more affordable neighborhoods to our communities. One of our few major funding sources from the state is the Aid to Municipalities (AIM) which has not been increased in thirteen years. It’s time our state legislators and governor put politics aside and join us at the local level to create a cleaner, safer and affordable New York,” said Troy Mayor Carmella R. Mantello.
“As the collective voice for New York’s cities and villages, this tour showcases and highlights the very real challenges our members deal with daily through the lack of additional unrestricted state aid,” said Barbara J. Van Epps, NYCOM executive director. “Mayors share the same goals as our state leaders — to keep our communities safe and affordable — but we can’t do that on our own. We need an ongoing commitment from the state to be a partner in our efforts to break down the barriers to efficiency and community revitalization.”
NYCOM’s 2024 legislative priorities include the following:
Finance
• Increase Unrestricted Aid to Cities and Villages
• Provide Dedicated Funding for Local Water and Sewer Infrastructure
• Increase Highway Funding
• Remove the Tax Cap’s Disincentives for Economic Growth
Employee Relations and Public Safety
• Reform the Civil Service Law
• Establish General Ambulance Service as an Essential Service and Support State Funding for EMS Providers
• Increase the Amount a Public Employee Retiree Can Earn as a Public Employee
Government Operations and Community Redevelopment
• Enhance Tools to Address Vacant, Distressed and Abandoned Property
• Create Financial Incentives to Revitalize Properties
• Strengthen Vehicle and Traffic Regulation and Enforcement
• Prohibit Nuisance Freedom of Information Law Requests
Energy, Environment and Technology
• Promote Sustainability and Alternative Energy Resources
• Implement Extended Producer Responsibility Across Sectors
• Provide Funding for Water Contamination Testing and Source Water Protection
For more information about NYCOM, its mission, and its legislative priorities, visit nycom.org.
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About the New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials (NYCOM): The New York State Conference of Mayors and Municipal Officials (NYCOM) is an association of, and for, cities and villages in New York. Since 1910, NYCOM has united local government officials in an active statewide network focused on the singular purpose of finding the most effective means of providing essential municipal services. Through the active participation of our membership, which represents more than 12 million New Yorkers, NYCOM is an aggressive advocate for city and village interests before the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of state government, as we seek to ensure local home rule for the government closest to the people. www.nycom.org
