The Sweden Town Board has written to Governor Cuomo and its state representatives to oppose the elimination of Aid to Municipalities Funding (AIM). The Town of Sweden relies upon AIM funding to provide services to seniors and youth as well as street lighting and the operation of cemeteries.
The Governor’s office has stated that the impact is minor and that local governments don’t really rely on AIM funding. The Town of Sweden receives $79,866 in AIM funding each year, 1.4% of the total town budget. However, as the Town of Sweden encompasses the Village of Brockport and numerous special districts for the provision of sewer and water to limited areas, the portion of the budget to which AIM funding applies actually represents a 2.9% cut – double the amount used to justify the designation “minor.”
Furthermore, State Budget Director Robert Mujica’s statement that local governments “will be getting far more than any of these individual reductions” due to the closure of an Internet sales tax loop that will result in increased sales tax collections statewide, has not been substantiated in regards to individual municipalities.
Cutting $79,866 in non-property tax revenue while still requiring adherence to the “2% property tax cap” seems to be punitive in nature, according to Sweden Supervisor Kevin Johnson. The Town of Sweden’s allowable tax levy increase for the last five years averaged is $51,180. It would require more new property tax dollars than the average allowable property tax increase to replace AIM funding. Adding to the perception that the proposal is punitive in nature is that cities in New York State would continue to receive AIM funding as they currently do.
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