198.2020 Support Federal Funding related to COVID-19 Pandemic to all Municipalities
RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT THAT FEDERAL FUNDING RELATED TO
COVID-19 PANDEMIC BE DIRECTED TO ALL MUNICIPALITIES
REGARDLESS OF POPULATION SIZE
RESOLUTION NO.: 198, 2020
INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Harrison Freer
WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION
SECONDED BY: Mr. Anthony Metivier
WHEREAS, the federal government recently enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and
Economic Security (CARES) Act to address the economic fallout from the COVID-19 Pandemic
in the United States, and
WHEREAS, Section 601 of the CARES Act (P.L. 116-136) provides a $150 billion fund
for states, tribal governments and units of local government with a population in excess of
500,000 people, and
WHEREAS, less than one-half of one percent of municipalities in the entire United States
meet this population threshold and are thus ineligible to receive direct funding from the federal
government, and
WHEREAS, of the 933 towns in New York State, 931 are ineligible for direct federal
funding under the CARES Act, including the Town of Queensbury, and
WHEREAS, towns provide essential services to the 9 million New Yorkers and Town
residents including, but not limited to, ambulance, police and fire protection services, building
and code enforcement and highway maintenance, and have continued to do so throughout the
ongoing health crisis, and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 Pandemic has created significant financial stress for local
governments in New York State as an estimated $2 billion in sales tax revenue has been lost, as
well as other sources of revenue such as permit fees, justice court fines and mortgage recording
tax, and
WHEREAS, the depletion of different revenue sources for local governments, combined
with lack of funding, will result in reducing essential services or shifting the costs onto real
property taxpayers, many of whom are experiencing their own financial stress,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED that the Queensbury Town Board hereby calls upon its United States
Congressional Representative Elise Stefanik, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator Charles
Schumer, to support federal funding related to the COVID-19 Pandemic to be directly delivered
to all municipalities, regardless of population size, including the Town of Queensbury, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board authorizes and directs the Town Supervisor to send
certified copies of this Resolution to Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
and Senator Charles Schumer and take such other and further actions as may be necessary to
effectuate the terms of this Resolution.
st
Duly adopted this 1 day of June, 2020 by the following vote:
AYES : Mr. Strough, Mr. Metivier, Mr. Freer, Mr. Ferone
NOES : None
ABSENT: None