PRESS RELEASE: Kenneth Jenkins​ Responds to $14 Million Budget Shortfall

Astorino’s Tricks Hurting Working Families

Kenneth Jenkins, candidate for County Executive, responds to projected $14 million shortfalls in the 2017 County budget. Ken Jenkins, an ardent fighter for fiscal responsibility, has warned against Astorino’s faulty budgets strongly and voted against them on the Board of Legislators.

“An overinflated sales tax was Astorino’s answer to his budget shortfall this year,” said Kenneth Jenkins.

“On the Board of Legislators, I voted against Astorino’s budget because I could see the fiscal dangers it posed. Not only are these practices putting pressure on property taxes, but they are also making living costs more expensive for working families.”

Due to the purposeful overinflation of projected sales tax revenue in the 2017 budget, the County now projects a $14 million shortfall in this year’s budget. The Astorino Administration has responded that this is “manageable” and they should be able to close the gap because, as was said, “numbers change”.

“Rising property taxes do not just affect landlords and homeowners; they affect everyone in between,” said Kenneth Jenkins.

“When landlords have to pay more, they pass those costs off to their tenants. Our government should be making it easier for working families trying to make ends meet. Astorino’s bad budgets put too much pressure on people struggling to keep up.”

Lost revenue means that the government has to cut corners to keep the budget balanced.

That means that important services, that were budgeted for, like day care and health, could see their funding slashed even further or the County will have to dip into its discretionary fund pushing us further behind the eight ball.

“Don’t be fooled by Astorino’s political tricks,” said Kenneth Jenkins. “He wants to distract you from his bad budgeting and set the stage for yet another run for governor. Astorino’s plan is to be long gone when our working families have to pay the bill when it all comes crashing down.”

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