Unshackle Upstate Statement Regarding Governor Cuomo’s 2021 Budget Presentation

January 21st, 2020

“While we await more details on Governor Cuomo’s budget proposals, what we have heard and seen is a mixed bag of modest tax relief alongside several anti-growth measures.

According to a new poll from the Siena Research Institute, voters believe that tackling the state’s sky-high taxes should be at the top of the governor’s priority list. Accordingly, we’re pleased to see that Governor Cuomo has advanced some tax relief measures for small businesses and middle class families. We strongly believe that the governor and the Legislature must do more to ease the burden of hardworking taxpayers across the state. Failure to do so will only fuel New York’s population decline.

We remained concerned about proposals focusing on paid sick leave, an expanded prevailing wage mandate, the gig economy and other policies that will negatively impact employers. These proposals will hurt job growth and chase more people out of the state. Albany must find ways to improve our business climate so we can get our economy growing.

As our leaders in Albany debate how to strengthen New York’s communities and grow our economy, we encourage them to embrace the pro-growth positions contained in our 2020 Advocacy Agenda.”