Richards Petitioning Albany For More Money For Rochester
By: WROC-TV
Updated: January 28, 2013
Rochester Mayor Tom Richards is trying to convince that the city needs more money, and he is not alone.
Richards was among mayors from all over the state testifying Monday at a hearing in Albany. They told lawmakers that cities are in dire straits. Richards says they must consider a new way to generate revenue for cities separate from the property tax. He says it is an antiquated method.
"We're caught in this situation, and it's not a comfortable one for the mayor where I basically have to prove how poor we are. I don't like that, I'm not here to do that. The point is, when these numbers and these relationships were set, Rochester was at a different place than it's at today. There's been an evolution in upstate New York over time and we have to recognize that that has occurred," he told a legislative committee.
Under Governor Cuomo's proposed budget, funding for cities is flat. But it includes a new program that lets cities smooth out growing pension costs. Lawmakers have until April to pass a budget.
Richards was among mayors from all over the state testifying Monday at a hearing in Albany. They told lawmakers that cities are in dire straits. Richards says they must consider a new way to generate revenue for cities separate from the property tax. He says it is an antiquated method.
"We're caught in this situation, and it's not a comfortable one for the mayor where I basically have to prove how poor we are. I don't like that, I'm not here to do that. The point is, when these numbers and these relationships were set, Rochester was at a different place than it's at today. There's been an evolution in upstate New York over time and we have to recognize that that has occurred," he told a legislative committee.
Under Governor Cuomo's proposed budget, funding for cities is flat. But it includes a new program that lets cities smooth out growing pension costs. Lawmakers have until April to pass a budget.
