Medina backs calls for more AIM funding from state, which gives village a paltry amount

MEDINA – The Village Board approved a formal resolution calling on the governor and State Legislature to increase funding to municipalities.

The New York Conference of Mayors, a organization representing cities and villages throughout the state, asked Median to support the resolution. Medina also will send a letter of support from Mayor Marguerite Sherman.

The state’s current Aid and Incentives to Municipalities distributes $715 million statewide to towns, villages and cities outside of New York City.  With AIM, the cities get $647.1 million or 90.5 percent of the total, while towns statewide receive $47.9 million, and villages share $19.7 million.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed a $150 million increase in Temporary Municipal Assistance with the lion’s share again going to cities of all sizes in the state.

Medina approved the resolution of support on Monday, but Trustee Scott Bieliski noted Medina doesn’t get much in the program, despite offering many municipal services.

“With the state budget, our residents could be paying more than they are receiving,” he said.

The Village of Medina with a population of population 6,047 currently gets $45,523 in AIM, and would get another $9,555 in Temporary Municipal Assistance, or $55,078 total. That breaks out to $9.11 per person.

 That is a far cry from what smaller cities receive. The City of Batavia in Genesee County, population 15,174 gets $1,750,975 in AIM, and would receive another $609,978 in TMA for $2,360,953 total. That would be $155.59 per person.

Sherman, the village mayor, noted villages like Medina don’t get much in AIM and Temporary Municipal Assistance.

“We don’t get a huge share of this,” she said. “Hopefully we can get some more. Every bit helps.”

The resolution from the Medina Village Board states the increase in funding from the state will help municipalities “address fiscal challenges and maintain essential services for residents.”

The cities, villages, and towns are essential in delivering services, infrastructure, public safety, and quality of life that residents expect and deserve, the resolution states.

“Local governments across New York continue to face mounting fiscal pressures driven by inflation, increased service demands, infrastructure needs, and rising operational costs, while striving to provide relief to taxpayers amid a rising cost of living,” according to the resolution.