|
|
|
In delivering the 2011 State of the County Address tonight at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks said that the county government’s highest priority is “the enrichment of community life.”
“In 2004, the theme of this address was ‘One Community, a New Beginning,’” said Brooks. “It set the tone for my new administration. And it established a guiding principle for day-to-day governing. We can accomplish more together than we can alone or in competition. ... And eight years later, the state of our county has evolved from one community with a new beginning to one community with a strong foundation for the future.”
Brooks addressed several areas in the speech and announced new initiatives and updates on current ones.
In the business sector, since 2004, the county has helped almost 1,000 local companies expand their workforce and grow their local investment, said Brooks. This has led to the creation of nearly 15,000 local jobs and the retention of another nearly 65,000 local jobs.
But, Brooks, said there is more work to be done.
“Companies are still challenged, and people are still searching for jobs or fighting to hold on to the ones they have,” she said. “And young people continue to look elsewhere for a better shot at a successful future.”
Brooks announced Monroe On the Job, a skilled trades training initiative. A matching grant program, it will allocate $4,000 to any company that makes a financial commitment to hire and train a new worker, offsetting the cost of putting the employee through qualified certification programs.
Brooks called Monroe County’s record of property taxes “rock solid,” citing that the property tax rate is lower than it was in 2004.
“There’s only one special interest that really matters in Monroe County — the local taxpayer,” said Brooks. “And your money is best spent in your family budget, versus the government budget.”
Brooks voiced her support of a property tax cap and said that steps need to be taken to control state and federal mandated spending, which, she said, accounts for 82 percent of the county budget.
As president of the New York State Association of County Executives, and as a member of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Mandate Redesign Team, she has submitted to the team, on behalf of New York’s counties, over 200 reform ideas that have the potential to save taxpayers billions of dollars.
“When money is tight, the pressure is on local communities to consolidate and collaborate,” said Brooks. “... Monroe County is home to more innovative shared service agreements than any other community in the state.”
In delivering the 2011 State of the County Address tonight at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks said that the county government’s highest priority is “the enrichment of community life.”
“In 2004, the theme of this address was ‘One Community, a New Beginning,’” said Brooks. “It set the tone for my new administration. And it established a guiding principle for day-to-day governing. We can accomplish more together than we can alone or in competition. ... And eight years later, the state of our county has evolved from one community with a new beginning to one community with a strong foundation for the future.”
Brooks addressed several areas in the speech and announced new initiatives and updates on current ones.
In the business sector, since 2004, the county has helped almost 1,000 local companies expand their workforce and grow their local investment, said Brooks. This has led to the creation of nearly 15,000 local jobs and the retention of another nearly 65,000 local jobs.
But, Brooks, said there is more work to be done.
“Companies are still challenged, and people are still searching for jobs or fighting to hold on to the ones they have,” she said. “And young people continue to look elsewhere for a better shot at a successful future.”
Brooks announced Monroe On the Job, a skilled trades training initiative. A matching grant program, it will allocate $4,000 to any company that makes a financial commitment to hire and train a new worker, offsetting the cost of putting the employee through qualified certification programs.
Brooks called Monroe County’s record of property taxes “rock solid,” citing that the property tax rate is lower than it was in 2004.
“There’s only one special interest that really matters in Monroe County — the local taxpayer,” said Brooks. “And your money is best spent in your family budget, versus the government budget.”
Brooks voiced her support of a property tax cap and said that steps need to be taken to control state and federal mandated spending, which, she said, accounts for 82 percent of the county budget.
As president of the New York State Association of County Executives, and as a member of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Mandate Redesign Team, she has submitted to the team, on behalf of New York’s counties, over 200 reform ideas that have the potential to save taxpayers billions of dollars.
“When money is tight, the pressure is on local communities to consolidate and collaborate,” said Brooks. “... Monroe County is home to more innovative shared service agreements than any other community in the state.”
They include its 911 Center, the Public Safety Training Facility and the recently completed Monroe County Crime Lab, which will serve law enforcement agencies in Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates counties, said Brooks.
Brooks also discussed several “green” initiatives in Monroe County.
The Green Fleet Program —with a goal to transition the county’s entire fleet to alternative fuel or hybrid electric models by 2012 — is ahead of schedule and on track to be complete by the end of the year, said Brooks.
She also announced an expansion to the recycling program, starting June 1, to include such items as yogurt and take-out containers and prescription pill bottles.
Brooks also announced plans for Monroe County’s new ECOPark, which will be located on Avion Drive in Chili. It will be “a one-stop-shop for the disposal of everything not accepted by refuse haulers,” said Brooks, adding that the plan will be ready to move forward by the end of the year.
To view a transcript of Brooks' speech, click here.
