Includes
measures pushed by Assemblywoman Russell
Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell
(D-Theresa) announced that the state budget for SFY 2014-15 included several
provisions based on pieces of legislation she authored addressing North Country
priorities. The budget contains additional infrastructure funding, language
authorizing the transfer of land from the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, measures
to expand piggybacking on purchasing contracts between local entities and
privacy protections for farmers, all of which Assemblywoman Russell fought to
have included in the budget.
The state budget includes $40
million in additional funding for the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program
(CHIPS) for the purpose of aiding municipalities impacted by extreme winter
weather. Earlier this year, Assemblywoman Russell sent a letter to the Speaker
explaining that the exceptionally hard winter this year placed an extraordinary
strain on municipal budgets, and that large expenditures on snow and ice
mitigation depleted municipal funds, leaving little revenue for the rest of the
year.
“Damage from this year’s extreme
winter weather is not only a nuisance but a public safety hazard,”
Assemblywoman Russell said. “Without help from the state, local governments
simply will not have the resources to make the critical investments in
infrastructure that keep our roads safe and commerce moving.”
To help municipalities reduce costs
and operate more efficiently, Assemblywoman Russell fought to have legislation
she authored to expand municipalities’ ability to share in purchasing contracts
included in the final budget. The legislation builds on previous legislation
authored by Assemblywoman Russell by allowing cooperative purchasing between
local governments and federal, state or local governments elsewhere in the
United States. The measure also allows other types of government entities to
participate in purchasing contracts.
“Local governments in the North
Country have been leading the way in working together to increase efficiency and
this legislation is just another tool in the toolbox of local officials so they
can cut costs and lower taxes,” Assemblywoman Russell said.
The budget also included language
authored by Assemblywoman Russell authorizing the transfer of state land
located on the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center campus to the City of
Ogdensburg.
“There are several pieces of
valuable land that can be added back on to the tax rolls and help spur economic
development rather than sitting unused,” Assemblywoman Russell said.
“This
builds on the hard work and success that the Ogdensburg community achieved in
saving the Psych Center and will transform underutilized land into major
community assets that can help revitalize the North Country's economy.”
Additionally the budget included a
measure to provide basic protections to farmers who voluntarily provide
information to the New York State Cattle Health Assurance Program (NYSCHAP).
The program assists dairy and beef
producers in implementing best management practices to help ensure public
health and animal health as well as food safety and consumer confidence in the dairy
and beef products.
North Country farmers want to adopt best
practices that ensure the safety of consumers and their animals but need to be
provided privacy protections to avoid potential lawsuits that could cripple
their businesses, Assemblywoman Russell noted.
-30-