X

North Country assemblyman says Democrats thwarted Republicans’ attempts to limit unfunded mandates

Posted 11/30/16

A North Country assemblyman says majority Democrats thwarted the Republicans’ attempts to limit unfunded mandates in this year’s legislative session, and promises the GOP minority will try again …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

North Country assemblyman says Democrats thwarted Republicans’ attempts to limit unfunded mandates

Posted

A North Country assemblyman says majority Democrats thwarted the Republicans’ attempts to limit unfunded mandates in this year’s legislative session, and promises the GOP minority will try again in 2017.

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, R - Black River, who represents the 117th District, including the towns of DeKalb, Gouverneur, Hermon, Russell, Edwards, Fowler and Pitcairn in St. Lawrence County, says requirements the state puts on school districts and local governments while not helping them to pay for the work puts a strain on local budgets.

“Unfunded mandates continue to place unnecessary pressure on our school district and town budgets, and anxiety on our state’s taxpayers,” Blankenbush said in a press release.

“Our conference proposed legislation which would put an immediate halt to the passage of any mandate which was not funded by the state. The Democrat-led majority, however, refuses to acknowledge these proposals and has chosen to continue with its fiscally-destructive ways,” he said.

The upshot, Blankenbush says, is that local governments “must cover the increasing cost of unfunded mandates by turning to their residents and taxing them for inflated budgets.”

He says Republicans in the Assembly will try again in the next session to het a bill passed.

In the meantime he is inviting constituents to share their thoughts on unfunded mandates or any other legislative matter by contacting him at blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us or 315-493-3909.