State Sen. George Maziarz said today that the New York State budget for fiscal year 2014-2015 is a step in the right direction.

Maziarz said in a release that it "contains many positive elements to move our economy in the right direction and create jobs."

Particularly, Maziarz pointed to positives that include a plan to speed up the phasing out of the 18-A energy assessment, cutting manufacturers’ income tax rates to zero and establishing a property tax credit for them.

"Lowering costs for businesses will mean more jobs in our communities," Maziarz said. "This should continue to be our primary objective at the state level—making New York a place where economic activity can flourish. The opportunities that will be created by making our state more business-friendly are exciting to think about."

The Newfane Republican also said there were positives on the education front. The budget calls for more than a billion dollars in new funding for schools statewide, including more than $17 million for public schools in the 62nd Senate District.

"The Smart Schools Bond Act, which voters will decide on this November, will also add another $2 billion in funding for critical technology upgrades in schools, $40 million of which will come back to schools in the 62nd Senate District," he said.

Another highlight Maziarz pointed to was $40 million for road repairs. "This money will help fix potholes and make our streets safer."

The budget also included $12.5 million for Niagara County Community College for the design and construction of a new learning commons in order to better serve students.

The budget was far from perfect in Maziarz eyes, however, in part because it allocated money to implement the New York SAFE Act, creating a statewide database for checking backgrounds and tracking ammunition sales.

"This is reprehensible and I voted against this aspect of the budget agreement," Maziarz said. "Like the unSAFE Act itself, these measures represent an unwarranted infringement on our Second Amendment rights and they should be opposed."

---

Don't miss any updates from East Niagara Post.
Follow us by email for daily updates of all our stories delivered straight to your inbox.