Niagara County Legislature Deputy Majority Leader Dave Godfrey (l.) and Lockport Mayor Michael W. Tucker listen intently as Empire State Development Corp. Senior Vice President for Regional Economic Development Sam Hoyt answers a question posed by Niagara County Treasurer Kyle R. Andrews (r.). Godfrey, Tucker, and Andrews were among approximately 65 local government officials and community leaders in attendance Wednesday at a formal briefing on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's 2012-2013 executive budget delivered by Hoyt, a former Buffalo assemblyman.

Hoyt Brings Budget Session to Lockport

Top government officials from Niagara County, Lockport, and surrounding communities were on-hand Wednesday at Lockport City Hall to receive a briefing on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s 2012-2013 executive budget from one of the state’s top economic development officials.

Sam Hoyt, the former Buffalo assemblyman tapped to serve as senior vice president for regional economic development at the Empire State Development Corp., addressed an audience of approximately 65 individuals, primarily representatives of local and county government, on the $132.5 billion proposed spending plan.

The final budget passed by New York state’s government will impact county, municipal, and school budgets in the form of mandated local spending and state aid. Local leaders have urged Albany to develop a mechanism to fully fund state mandates.

As part of efforts by the Cuomo Administration to build support for the budget, Hoyt and other top administration officials are delivering similar briefings in all 150 of the state’s Assembly districts.

Among the local leaders in attendance was Niagara County Treasurer Kyle R. Andrews, who thanked Hoyt for providing local government officials with the budget synopsis.

“I think a lot of us were certainly extremely pleased to see the continued efforts out of Albany to place fiscal constraints on their spending and to create an environment more conducive to local business and job creation—and with an eye toward reducing the cost of operations for local governments,” Andrews said. 

“I know that I’m particularly optimistic about the proposed freeze in Medicaid cost increases and the Tier VI pension reform, which target the two largest drivers of county cost from year to year,” Andrews noted.  “Addressing those two cost drivers is critical to making Niagara County more competitive when it comes to things like drawing employers to our region.”

Andrews, Lockport Mayor Michael W. Tucker, and Legislature Deputy Majority Leader Dave Godfrey spoke directly with Hoyt after the briefing, relating local concerns about major cost drivers, and reiterating local support for reducing the local share of Medicaid and pension funding.

Niagara County lawmakers received the first segment of a two-part annual briefing on the state of the county’s economy and economic development efforts from the men tasked with leading the herculean effort to keep Niagara County’s economy growing against the backdrop of a weak national economy Tuesday night.

County Legislature Economic Development Committee Chairman Rick Updegrove, R-Lockport, and Niagara County Industrial Development Agency Chairman Henry M. Sloma delivered the address, which clocked in at just under 20 minutes, highlighting both economic development successes in 2011 and laying out part of the county’s strategy for 2012. 

When the Legislature meets again in two weeks, Updegrove will flesh out that strategy fully in a second half to tonight’s address.

“Functioning as the Niagara County Center for Economic Development, the Niagara County Department of Economic Development and the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency have achieved many successes for Niagara County,” Updegrove told a packed Legislative chamber, with county legislators, department heads, and approximately 50 spectators on hand for the address.

Updegrove then reiterated the core mission of the county’s Economic Development Department.

“The Department of Economic Development has obtained grants to clean up brownfields, turned underutilized land into certified shovel-ready development sites, participated in the work of the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council ensuring that Niagara County received its fair share, and worked with local municipalities to promote sustainable development,” Updegrove said.

“The Niagara County Industrial Development Agency has put specific emphasis on our urban cores through the Opportunity Zones program, retained large manufacturers, helped companies expand, and attracted new businesses to Niagara County,” Updegrove said, summing up the agency’s successes in 2011.  “The NCIDA has expanded the number of jobs and opportunities available to Niagara County residents, and will continue to do so in the year ahead.”

2012 Economic Address for Niagara County

Recently I submitted the 2012-2013 Executive Budget and Reform Plan to the Legislature. Because of the tough choices we made last year, we were able to balance this budget without broad cuts and with no new taxes, fees or borrowing.

Our plan is a pro-growth economic blueprint that will create tens of thousands of jobs by fostering private sector investment. It will lower the cost of government and help reduce property taxes through important proposals like pension reform and mandate relief. And it will move our state to a performance-based education system that puts students first.

We are proposing dramatic change and it’s not going to be easy to get it done. The need for reform and the benefits to the state are obvious, but we will face significant challenges as we work to change the status quo.

But with your help – if we come together as New Yorkers as we did last year – we can make these reforms reality.

Join me in transforming New York.

Sincerely,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Follow the link: 2012 Budget Address January 17, 2012

Governor Cuomo understands that our state’s high property taxes are driving people from their homes and businesses. That is why he made lowering property taxes a top priority and, last year, he led the successful fight to enact the first-ever property tax cap in the state.

We now need to relieve local governments of burdensome state laws that drive up their costs. That’s why the Governor is proposing sweeping reforms to lower the cost of government by removing state-imposed mandates.

Among the proposals is relieving counties and NYC from the costs of Medicaid growth. The Governor has proposed a state takeover of the costs of Medicaid growth over the next three years. This would save local governments $1.2 billion over the next five years.

We also have to focus on reforming the public pension system — one of the most expensive mandates for local governments. Pension costs are growing at an unsustainable rate, projected to increase 185% from 2009 to 2015.

We must act now to control growth. That’s why the Governor has called for changes in the public pension system for new employees. This would save local governments $79 billion over the next 30 years.

The Governor’s pension reform plan is fair to employees and taxpayers, and no current employees will be affected by it.

Click here to learn more the Governor’s proposals for pension reform.

To engage the public in discussion about further changes to lower government costs, a joint Legislative Executive Mandate Relief Council has been established and begun meeting. It will hold public hearings around the state and then issue a package of recommendations to be voted on this legislative session.

Join Governor Cuomo in making the government work for the people again: Click here to encourage friends and family to get involved.

Together, we are Building a New New York.

Advertising Opportunities

Community leaders and businesses of all sizes have gathered annually in Niagara County for this highly anticipated event.  This year the Chamber will recognize the outstanding accomplishments of:

Modern Corporation – Business of the Year
Louis H. Knotts – Business Person of the Year
WNY Regional Economic Development Council – Visionary Award
Kathleen A. Granchelli – Community Advocate of the Year
Stephen F. Brady – Chairman’s Award

The “Chamber Honors” is the Chamber’s most prestigious affair attracting Niagara County’s most prominent leaders, decision-makers, dignitaries and elite sponsors. The event will feature a cocktail reception, dinner, awards ceremony and entertainment by Soul Committee. 

“Niagara County is very fortunate to be served by such dedicated and competent leaders who are a force in this community and strive to improve the quality of life and economic stability of our region,” states Niagara USA Chamber President, Deanna Alterio Brennen.

Thank you to this year’s sponsors: Niacet Corporation, Seneca Gaming Corporation, Arrowhead Winery, Calamar, KeyBank, E-3 Communications, First Niagara Bank, LP Ciminelli, and Niagara County Community College, Greater Niagara Newspapers. 

Sponsorships are still available and tickets can be purchased by contacting the Niagara USA Chamber at 716.285.9141.     

Dear Fellow New Yorker,

We are off to a great start in the State of New York in 2012. We’re building on the real progress we made last year in transforming our economy, balancing our state budget and reducing income taxes for the middle class to the lowest level since 1953. 

Most importantly, our government is performing and has regained the public trust. I believe the key to reforming Albany is mobilizing the public to get involved and express their views to elected officials. Special interests only win in a vacuum. Democracy works when every voice is heard.        

We have proposed a bold agenda for the upcoming year. It includes reforming our education system with real teacher evaluations, ending the practice of fingerprinting working families on food assistance, creating tens of thousands of jobs through major infrastructure investments, building a DNA databank to stop crime and protect all New Yorkers, and lowering the tax burden on localities through pension reform and eliminating state laws that drive up the cost of local government.

Without a doubt, this is an ambitious reform plan, but we cannot move forward without you. 

Make your voice heard and encourage your friends and family to join us at www.NYGetInvolved.com.

Only by working together can we move New York forward.

Sincerely,

Andrew M. Cuomo

The panel discussion will be moderated by David Robinson, Buffalo News Business Reporter.   The event’s Presenting Sponsors are EnergyMark and the Amherst Chamber of Commerce with technical support from Sound Video Solutions.

Chamber members, business & education leaders, local elected officials, and community &service club leaders are invited to participate.  The cost for the event is $15 per person and starts with a continental breakfast at 7:30am.  The program will start promptly at 8:00am and will conclude at 9:30am.  Reservations can be made by calling the Ken-Ton Chamber of Commerce at 716-874-1202.   

The key issues to be discussed include Health Care Reform, Medicare Reform, Mandate and Property tax relief, the New York State Budget and other issues related to growing businesses and creating jobs.  After a question and answer session there will be an opportunity for questions from the audience.  

The WNYCA consists of 25 local Chambers of Commerce working together to represent and promote the interests of their chambers and the business community of Western New York State.