After state budget proposal, local cities expect less aid

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After state budget proposal, local cities expect less aid

By PAT BAILEY

Story Created: Dec 17, 2008 at 5:10 PM EST

Story Updated: Dec 17, 2008 at 10:05 PM EST

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - The proposed state budget cuts will impact local municipalities not just for next year, but for the year after as well.

The biggest funding municipalities receive from the State of New York comes in the form of AIM funding, Aid and Incentives for Municipalities. Tuesday, Governor Paterson proposed all AIM funding freeze at it's current amount, no increases.

Both Mayor James Brown of Rome and Mayor David Roefaro of Utica say the 2009 state budget proposal means that AIM funding, over the next two years, will stay the same as it is for 2008,

The City of Utica will receive $17 million for the next two years and the City of Rome will get $6.8 million in 2009 and 2010.

Both mayors say that money goes to the general fund and is used for public safety.

Mayor Brown says the 2009 city budget is done, and the 2010 budget was complete until the Governor made proposed cuts. Now Rome will be left with a $1.3 million shortfall in 2010. To make that money up, Brown says the city has turned to layoffs.

"We laid off 18 people. 35 positions, 17 weren't filled which got us over a half million dollars," said brown. "Were on our way to get to that million three. That is what were going to be working on in the 2009 fiscal year."

Mayor Roefaro says the City of Utica may have to look at layoffs as well. "I'm not inclined to say we won't have staffing cuts. If thats what it is going to take then thats what it will take. Its a little too preliminary to tell if were going to have cuts or not," said Roefaro.

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