The pandemic relief agreement, part of a bill that Congress was set to vote on Monday, includes some emergency resources for state and local governments, with $13 billion in targeted aid set aside for New York, including to help schools and colleges; transit agencies and airports; and governments’ virus-related expenses like those associated with vaccine distribution.
A lack of direct aid will mean tough choices for municipal and county governments, local leaders said Monday, given statutory and regulatory requirements to present balanced budgets by cutting, spending savings or raising taxes.
“The federal government has again left us to fend for ourselves during this national emergency,” said Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, president of the New York State County Executives Association. “There is much in the (federal) deal needed to support businesses and families, but I fear the long-term consequences of their failure to provide much-needed help to local governm
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Congress has reached a deal on a $900 billion coronavirus relief package. It does not contain direct aid for state and local governments. For the New York State Association of Counties and county executives in the state, that’s a problem.
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer says New York will receive roughly $54 billion.
“There’s more to be done,” Schumer says. “This is not a stimulus; it’s an emergency survival bill, so today is a good day but it’s not the end of the story.”
Republican Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro is president of the New York State County Executives Association, an affiliate of the New York State Association of Counties, or NYSAC.
Dutchess County CE Molinaro on Snow Emergencies, State & Local Aid By Susan Arbetter New York State PUBLISHED 4:04 PM ET Dec. 17, 2020 PUBLISHED 4:04 PM EST Dec. 17, 2020
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Marc Molinaro told
Capital Tonight that COVID-19 has made some county roadwork staffers ill, which could have affected snow removal. But the Dutchess County executive said they were able to bring in some people to fill out the staffing for this snowstorm.
Molinaro, who holds the title of president of the New York State County Executives Association, also weighed on the probability that the next stimulus package will likely not include state and local aid.