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County Delegates Elect President, Adopt Resolutions and Set Priorities
Over 700 member county officials convene at NYSAC’s Annual Fall Seminar
September 22, 2009
Among the many important policy resolutions adopted by county leaders from across the state last week was a need to address the dairy crisis that is confronting family and commercial farms in New York State.
County delegates convened the annual meeting of the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) to elect a new slate of officers, hold committee meetings, adopt resolutions and set the direction for the Association for the coming year. The meeting was held as part of the 2009 NYSAC Fall Seminar in Saratoga from September 16-18, 2009.
County delegates set two priorities:
- Urging the Governor and the State Legislature to reduce state spending without shifting the costs of state programs to county property taxpayers, and
- Calling on state and federal governments to implement immediate actions to help relieve the current dairy crisis.
“NYSAC has been charged by our members to stand up for property taxpayers against the State shifting costs to counties to close their $2.1 billion state budget gap. Additionally, we must enact measures to stem the loss of New York’s dairy farms, which have been going out of business in record numbers during this recession,” said Chemung County Executive Tom Santulli, president of NYSAC.
Agriculture is an important industry in New York State. New York ranks #1 nationally in the production of cottage cheese and sour cream and is ranked 3rd in the number of milk cows behind California and Wisconsin. “Dairy farmers deserve our support and all levels of government need to focus on their plight if they are to remain in business. Quite simply, these farms provide essential nutrition and are a major contributor to our state and local economies,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario.
"County leaders continue to speak and act with one shared and strong voice through the Association, and the end result is better, more efficient and effective government in New York State,” Acquario said. "As we emerge from this recession over the next year or two, county officials are looking to position their communities in ways that can help New Yorkers to better, more prosperous times."
The New York State Association of Counties is a bipartisan municipal association serving all 62 counties of New York State including the City of New York. Organized in 1925, NYSAC’s mission is to represent, educate and advocate for member counties and the thousands of elected and appointed county officials who serve the public.
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