Allegany County Legislator Barnes from Wellsville: " NYS is doin' it again"

Gary Barnes

The Allegany County Legislature Monday afternoon unanimously passed a resolution calling on the governor and state legislature to stop withholding sales and internet tax revenue. The funds, the county sales tax, have been diverted and officials say it is causing financial pain for the county. Prior to the vote, Gary Barnes (R-Wellsville) issued this statement:

New York State is doin' it again...couple years ago they allowed the...ahh...counties to get more sales tax by collecting from internet sales and...Allegany County...those internet sales are a big thing as a percentage of out total sales tax. But what happens? It goes into effect...New York State then decides, well, we're gonna give you some of that but some if it is gonna go to the villages that...the the state normally paid. Last year, early last year, it was reported that Albany had a fiscal shortfall of $6 billion...it was probably closer to $10 billion when they got to the bottom line. Instead of the state trying to take care of it, they're pushing everything back to the counties. 

We can't afford it, none of the counties can afford it. But, that's the fact. New York State is pushing us into a position, that our...we're having difficulties coming up with a budget. It's time that we let Albany, the governor, the legislature know, that we can't continue to work like this. Thank you."

Legislator William Dibble issued a similar comment.