Belmont, NY - A coalition of lawmakers and officials forming the Inter-County Association of Western New York
continues to meet virtually during the Covid-19 crisis.
The Inter-County Association, represented by nineteen upstate counties, meets monthly to discuss matters of
mutual interest and concern. Policy and legislative objectives are established, and resolutions are forwarded to state
officials for their consideration.
This month, the Association was honored by the presence of Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27), who expressed
his concerns over the lack of federal funding for local governments. “I'm disappointed that we haven't been able to
go down (to Washington) for another vote on the stimulus...I've certainly advocated, along with the rest of the
New York Delegation that there's a pressing need to fund local governments. That's a real crisis at this point.”
Association President Brooke Harris (Allegany County) applauded Jacob's focus on the issue. “It's encouraging to
see elected officials like Congressmen Chris Jacobs’ and Tom Reed fighting for Western New York. Local
governments are being placed in a very precarious position due largely to the state's willful withholding of funds
for mandated programs. On top of that, previously allocated federal funds are tied up in Albany, instead of being
passed through to local counties and municipalities as they were intended.”
The lone measure adopted at this month's meeting addressed the issue directly. By unanimous vote, the
Association passed a resolution “Calling on Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the Division of Budget to Release
Overdue Payments to All Counties.”
In addition to Congressman Jacobs, the Association was provided an update on state issues and concerns from New
York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) General Counsel Patrick Cummings.
The next meeting of the Association will be held virtually on September 18 at 10:00 a.m.
