|
News
Dowling College Institute Hosts Town Supervisors Discussing Their Views Of The State Of Long Island
OAKDALE, NY – "Where Long Island is heading is the most critical issue confronting the region," so said Martin Cantor, Director of Dowling College's Long Island Economic and Social Policy Institute.
Cantor said, "Just look at the carnage that the state budget left in its wake. HMO's and non-profit hospitals have increased fees, which will make health care more expensive than it already is; 15% of regional tax filers or 120,000 taxpayers, will see their taxes increase; Long Island, which educates 17% of the state's children, and usually receives 14% of state education, will find that aid dramatically reduced to 5% of new aid; and lastly, the 1% utility tax, which specifically mentions LIPA, will increase local energy costs."
Cantor added, "All of this expands the $2.6 billion deficit between what Long Island sends to Albany and what the region gets back in state aid and spending. This will make the region more expensive for businesses who want to come here or stay here, along with their highly paid and well-trained workforce."
Cantor concluded, "So, here we are on Long Island, with the state budget cards dealt not in our favor. And, here are four leading town supervisors who have to run their towns in the perspective of a recessionary economy, less state aid, and rising taxes and fees, that their constituents have to deal with. Fiscally, this is the perfect storm that Supervisors Steve Bellone of Babylon, Phil Cardinale of Riverhead, Phil Nolan of Islip, and Frank Petrone of Huntington, have to maneuver. How they do this will be the topic of the April 17th Roundtable at Dowling College: "The State of Long Island From A Towns Perspective."
About Dowling College
Dowling College is an independent, coeducational college that serves more than 6,500 students at
its historic Rudolph Campus on the banks of the Connetquot River in Oakdale, NY, and the 105-acre
Brookhaven Campus in eastern Long Island and a business center located near the Nassau-Suffolk
border in Melville. Dowling offers Bachelor′s, Master′s, and Doctoral degrees in several
disciplines through its four schools: Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Education.
|
