Jacobs Praises Budget Restoration of Video Lottery Terminal Aid

(Albany, NY) – State Senator Chris Jacobs today announced that the legislative version of the state budget negotiated between the Senate and the Assembly has restored $9 million in Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) Aid that the Governor proposed to eliminate.  

Noting that the new budget language was not final, and still needs to be voted on and then signed into law, Jacobs said the new language agreed upon by both houses was a good first step and a victory for local governments.  Assuming the new budget bill is approved, the Town of Hamburg will receive $865,000 necessary to provide critical services. 

“VLT Aid represents the Town of Hamburg’s second largest revenue stream, and I am thrilled that we were able to restore these funds in the budget negotiated with the Assembly,” said Jacobs.  “It was wrong for the Governor to try and balance the budget on the backs of already overburdened local taxpayers and I am glad this injustice is being corrected.”

Had the VLT aid not been restored town officials would have been faced with eliminating jobs, cutting vital services or raising property taxes an astonishing 9.65%.  Erie County will also receive $288,000 in revenue as a result of the restoration.

“I want to thank the leadership Senate for hearing my call and joining me in sending a strong message to the Governor that we must stop the state’s fiscal assaults on local governments,” said Jacobs.  “As we continue moving through the budget process, I hope that we can establish spending priorities that show fiscal restraint instead of shifting costs to our partner’s in local government,” the Senator concluded.