DEC Commissioner Joe Martens in Lake Placid this week. Photo: Adirondack Daily Enterprise.
(02/03/12) Gov. Andrew Cuomo is scheduled to come to Plattsburgh this morning. He's bringing his budget message to the Warren Ball Room, in the Student Center at SUNY Plattsburgh at 10:30 am.
Senior Cuomo staffers have fanned out across the state to talk about the budget.
The state's top environmental official was in Lake Placid Wednesday afternoon.
Joe Martens, spoke to a small crowd of local politicians, tourism officials, government employees and business owners. Chris Morris has our story.
Commissioners
like the DEC’s Joe Martens were sent out to communities statewide in an effort
to help taxpayers understand the ins and outs of Gov. Cuomo’s spending plan.
“The theory there is very simple,” Martens said. “If they’re engaged, if they’re
involved, they will also, we hope, talk to their legislators, have a voice and
let them know what they think. You may not agree with everything that’s in this
presentation, but you should know what’s going on because it involves the state
of New York.”
The
governor’s budget would increase state spending by 2% and close a $2
billion budget gap. The $132.5 billion proposal comes in a fraction of a
percent lower than last year.
Martens
says the budget itself is fairly straightforward. He says the key parts of the
plan are the reform measures.
“So as you might suspect, while the budget sounds pretty manageable this year
given the relative size of the deficit, it’s the reform proposals that are
going to be much more challenging,” Martens said.
For
local politicians like North Elba Supervisor Roby Politi, no reform is more
important than mandate relief.
“We’re all concerned about mandate reform, obviously,” Politi said. “I’ve been very impressed with Gov. Cuomo and
what he’s accomplished.”
Politi
says he’s also hopeful that money will be available for upgrades to state
Olympic Regional Development Authority venues and infrastructure.
“Which is absolutely necessary moving forward for this community, for Whiteface
and Gore Mountain and so forth,” he said. “I know that there is an avenue for
that in the budget, and I’m very hopeful that’s the case.”
Politi
says Cuomo’s dedication to local outreach is unlike anything he’s ever seen.
Lake Placid village Mayor Craig Randall agreed, noting that budgets can be
incredibly complicated.
“I think this is refreshing,” Randall said. “It gives you a visual image of
what all of his anticipated results are if those budgets are carried out the
way they’re designed.”
Martens
is a former chairman of ORDA’s Board of Directors. He referenced the unusual
North Country winter when he wrapped up the presentation.
“It is always a pleasure to be in Lake Placid, even if it’s raining in
February,” he said.
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