By: Doug Sampson
The Governor’s budget proposal also includes some big dollars for Western New York.
YNN’s Doug Sampson tells us how the Governor delivered on promises he made in his State of the State address.
The Governor’s budget proposal also includes some big dollars for Western New York.YNN’s Doug Sampson tells us how the Governor delivered on promises he made in his State of the State address.
ALBANY, N.Y. — “City of Buffalo, investment 1 billion dollars to bring jobs back.”
Governor Andrew Cuomo included a major investment in Western New York as part of his proposed Executive budget.
“I believe this is a long-term positive investmment for the state,” said Cuomo. “If we invest in Buffalo, and we turn around Buffalo, and Buffalo is generating jobs, it adds to our balance sheet.”
“For Buffalo, the Governor’s budget advances his historic plan to invest in Buffalo and create jobs,” said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown. “With Governor Cuomo in Albany, we now have a leader who is putting Buffalo’s needs front and center.”
“This Governor knows that Erie County, Western New York, and the City of Buffalo matter,” said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. “We need some additional assistance than other parts of the state. He’s putting his money where his mouth is.”
The proposal calls for one billion dollars in state funding to come to Western New York over five years, with the first installment of $100 million this year. The Governor has asked the Regional Council and local leaders to develop a plan to create thousands of jobs and create five billion dollars in new investment and economic activity in the area.
“Now the focus is Buffalo, that’s where the focus is. But, this really should be a job creator for the entire Western New York region, all of Erie County,” said Buffalo Common Council President Richard Fontana.
“These would be new dollars and new jobs coming into the area, so we’re not talking about moving jobs from one part of the county to another, or for that matter from one part of the state to another, but new jobs,” said Poloncarz.
The budget proposal also includes financial help to try to keep the Buffalo Bills in Western New York. Cuomo earmarked $84 million for about a dozen economic initiatives, including, “the retention of professional football in Western New York.” It’s not clear yet how that money will be divided.
“I think by putting it into the budget he showed not only to the people of Erie County and Western New York, but all across New York State, including our friends downstate that it is important to him, and it’s something that’s going to have to be in the budget,” said Poloncarz.
There’s still a long ways to go in the budget process. The State Assembly and the State Senate will now make revisions to the Governor’s proposal. A finalized budget is due April 1st.
http://buffalo.ynn.com/content/all_news/570535/budget-proposal-calls-for-big-investment-in-wny/