{"id":34435,"date":"2020-05-07T13:19:36","date_gmt":"2020-05-07T17:19:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/?p=34435"},"modified":"2020-05-07T13:19:36","modified_gmt":"2020-05-07T17:19:36","slug":"counties-call-for-federal-aid-to-support-reopening-and-avert-dramatic-cuts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/counties-call-for-federal-aid-to-support-reopening-and-avert-dramatic-cuts\/","title":{"rendered":"Counties Call for Federal Aid to Support Reopening and Avert Dramatic Cuts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Renewed Call Comes in Response to New Report Showing Dramatically Worse Revenue Losses than Previously Estimated<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>ALBANY – The New York State Association of Counties<\/strong> (NYSAC), today released an updated report on the economic impact of the novel coronavirus<\/strong> on New York\u2019s counties that projects potentially catastrophic drops in revenue between $1.5 billion to $3.6 billion over the next year.<\/p>\n

The report was unveiled during a digital press conference today, during which Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro<\/strong> and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz<\/strong> joined NYSAC Executive Stephen J. Acquario<\/strong> to discuss the impact that revenue losses will have on the ability of counties to reopen and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cCounties are facing an economic calamity that exceeds what we saw in the worst of the great recession, and this time it\u2019s occurring in the middle of a global pandemic,\u201d said NYSAC President John F. Marren<\/strong>, chair of the Ontario County Board of Supervisors.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout help from the federal government in the form of direct aid to state and local governments, the counties who are leading the effort to stop COVID-19 and lay the foundation for reopening will face savage cuts to staff and services that could not come at a worse time,\u201d said Albany County Executive Dan McCoy<\/strong>, president of the NYS County Executives Association<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Poloncarz said, \u201cCounties across New York State are facing unprecedented challenges as they respond to the COVID-19 crisis, with economic impacts straining budgets and forcing difficult decisions in everything from the provision of necessary services to personnel and staff cutbacks. Despite significant revenue losses and bleak sales tax projections we are doing all we can now at the county level to protect the health and safety of our constituents while preparing for an eventual \u2018re-opening\u2019, but we will need help soon. I am joining Dutchess County Executive Molinaro and my executive counterparts statewide in urging the federal government to pass another financial assistance package to help in mitigating the impacts of these losses we are all experiencing so we can continue to work for our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

The report details how counties face a quadruple threat of:<\/p>\n