Is Cuomo bringing the "Buffalo Billion" to other upstate cities? (good, competition)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Or have county school districts with zones, with open enrollment within a zone. You can even keep the schools as is, but zone the county. You can have a superintendent with a board of education similar to what you have with county government in regards to a county executive and county legislature.
Interesting idea. I hadn't thought of this plan but I could definitely see a structure like this working very well.
Or have county school districts with zones, with open enrollment within a zone. You can even keep the schools as is, but zone the county. You can have a superintendent with a board of education similar to what you have with county government in regards to a county executive and county legislature.
That's one way to help fill the city's coffers, running on empty due to a declining tax base and ever-increasing spending--pick suburbanites' pockets by way of "metro government/school districts."
That's one way to help fill the city's coffers, running on empty due to a declining tax base and ever-increasing spending--pick suburbanites' pockets by way of "metro government/school districts."
Or a way to lower the property tax rate for all residents, considering that school taxes make up the biggest chunk of property taxes. This means that costs are shared for paying for less administrative positions. This in turn could be a way to attract companies and help those looking to start businesses, as well as bringing more development to cities.
Cuomo will be in Rochester tomorrow to discuss his plan:
Quote:
Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to visit Rochester on Thursday to details his plans for an upstate $1.5 billion, called the Upstate Revitalization Fund.
Cuomo outlined the plans during the campaign last year as a way to build off of the success of the Buffalo Billion, a $1 billion fund Cuomo established in 2011 for the state's largest upstate city.
The event would be the latest in the run-up to Cuomo's State of the State address and budget release next Wednesday, Jan. 21.
"The URF will inject $1.5 billion of state resources to drive the revitalization of communities, job growth, and population sustainability in major upstate urban centers," Cuomo said in his 245-page policy book in October.
"Instead of focusing on one city, the URF will target its investment to a set of economically distressed upstate metropolitan areas. The URF will invest in both catalytic infrastructure projects as well as quality of life initiatives to make Upstate New York a better place to live, work, and visit."
Cuomo's office declined comment on the planned announcement.
Cuomo has been under pressure to help other upstate cities after his administration put a heavy focus on Buffalo during his first term.
In fact, the focus on Buffalo appeared to irk voters in Monroe County. Cuomo lost Monroe County to Republican Rob Astorino in a Democratic county, becoming the first Democratic gubernatorial candidate to lose there since 1998.
"When you look at the $1 billion to Buffalo, Monroe County says, 'What's going on here? Are we the stepchild?' County GOP chairman Bill Reilich said in November.
This thing is a joke. Now it's a competition? The most Rochester, for instance could get is half a billion. Why aren't we worth a billion also. Nearly the same population and a larger GDP as Buffalo. Buffalo lost 25,000 steel jobs. Rochester lost over 50,000 jobs from one company alone.
This thing is a joke. Now it's a competition? The most Rochester, for instance could get is half a billion. Why aren't we worth a billion also. Nearly the same population and a larger GDP as Buffalo. Buffalo lost 25,000 steel jobs. Rochester lost over 50,000 jobs from one company alone.
It's a joke, of course. Buffalo will beat their chest all day, but they were given a gift and propped up by the state.
Rochester has a ton of momentum downtown and is doing without the massive state handouts and without a billionaire treating the city as his playground. Rachel Barnhart summed it up best:
Quote:
The governor made this announcement in the only big-city county he lost in November. When Cuomo lost Erie County, he showered money and love on Buffalo. When he lost Monroe County, he thrust us into a game show.
Rochester will have to compete with six other regions for three awards of $500 million.
No wonder Mayor Lovely Warren ran away after this announcement.
Warren probably wanted to say, “I thank the governor for his commitment to Upstate New York and for allowing us the opportunity to compete for money that we should get anyway. Rochester has the highest rate of child poverty in the state. We get less state aid per capita than any other Upstate city. The legislature makes us pay our school district $119 million every year, more than Syracuse and Buffalo pay their school districts combined. The governor likes to reward excellence, so he should take a look at our city’s great credit rating. But we thank him for giving us the opportunity to spend hours duplicating the Finger Lakes Economic Development Council plan. We probably have to make it look ‘different,’ or he might say we cheated. I appreciate the fact he is letting Rochester at least have a shot at a fraction of the cash he gave Buffalo. We are so lucky to have him.”
It's a joke, of course. Buffalo will beat their chest all day, but they were given a gift and propped up by the state.
Rochester has a ton of momentum downtown and is doing without the massive state handouts and without a billionaire treating the city as his playground. Rachel Barnhart summed it up best:
jeez, we've already given the Bills about $250 million over to past few years, not to mention, they're going to want another half billion soon for a new stadium. Would there even be the "Buffalo Bills" without Rochester filling 20,000 seats and half of the luxury box owners each game?
Remember the 716 area code? They got it and force millions of dollars in extra cost and lost customers implementing the new local area code.
Low cost hydro power from a federally built plant- In a recent relicensing procedure the super low electrical power must not leave Erie or Niagara counties. No, the city of good neighbors won't share it with their neighbors, despite the fact that there is excess capacity.
Just a few examples of where Rochester gives to Buffalo, but I see very little reciprocity. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
by way of "metro government/school districts."
