Rejecting the governor’s cuts to protect our children’s education

The governor’s proposed budget would have cut aid to Chautauqua schools by over $750,000. The Legislature fought those damaging cuts, and instead passed a budget that increased aid for local schools by $5 million.

The Legislature has continually rejected the governor’s reductions in funding for secondary and elementary education. Over the past two years the Legislature has provided Chautauqua County schools with over $13 million more than the governor’s recommendation – helping to extend quality programs and avert real property tax hikes.

Helping taxpayers – protecting quality health care

Chautauqua County can expect to save close to $1 million next year, and at least twice as much in 2006 under the Legislature’s budget, which requires the state to pick up the total local cost of the Family Health Plus program. The plan has the state pick up half the counties’ share of the bill in 2005, and the rest in 2006.

Last year, Assemblyman Parment helped save Chautauqua County more than $1.92 million when he supported legislation to relieve counties from repaying a Medicaid advance (Ch. 686 of 2003).

Assemblyman Parment will continue working to ease the burden on local taxpayers and protect vital jobs and quality health care. That’s why he is a sponsor of the Local Taxpayer Relief Act, which would limit the amount of Medicaid expenses that counties are responsible for (A.9924).

Working for a stronger economy

This year’s budget extends the Power for Jobs program – which has helped Chautauqua County create and retain approximately 500 jobs by offering businesses low-cost power as an incentive.

In 2000, Assemblyman Parment helped secure $500,000 in state funding for a partnership between the Manufacturer’s Association of the Jamestown Area, Jamestown Community College and Chautauqua County to construct the Manufacturing Technology Institute. Today, the MTI provides hands-on technical training and assistance to area businesses.

Al-Tech loan fund update

The Al-Tech revolving loan fund was originally created to boost the Chautauqua economy by providing businesses with loans to create and retain jobs. Because of mismanagement and misuse, the loan fund did not realize its full potential.

Recognizing the importance of this fund, Assemblyman Parment successfully pushed for reform and refinancing and won a hard-fought battle to have the state pay back $13 million to the fund.

Today, the Al-Tech fund is Chautauqua County’s most effective economic development tool. It has helped create over 400 new jobs and save over 2,200 since 1998 for local businesses, including:

ACU-RITE, Inc.
Athenaeum Hotel
Belknap Business Forms
Blackstone Business Products
Clark Laboratories
Cliffstar
Crawford Furniture
Custom Production MFG., Inc.
D&F Pallet
Diversified Components
El Greco
Ellison Bronze Inc.
Eminence Group (Colecraft)
Falconer Electronics
Falconer Industrial Center
Fieldbrook Foods Corp.
Green Acres Enterprises
International Ordnance
ITM
Jamestown Mattress
Jamestown Metal Products
Jamestown Scientific
Lakeside Precision
Mack’s Hometown Market
S. Howes, Inc
Shaant Industries, Inc.
Star Hotels
Ulrich Planfiling Equipment Corp.
Universal Stainless and Alloy
Western NY & PA Railroad