Town Hall Meetings

The Division of the Budget held six town hall meetings around the state throughout the month of November, which were attended by over 500 people. At the hearings, 245 citizens provided testimony on issues of their choosing. The policy matters they spoke about included education, health care, family farms, the economy, library funding, aid to people with disabilities, local governments, support for the arts, tax relief, and many others.

Those who were unable to attend were invited to participate in one of the following ways:

1. Submitting comments online to BudgetHearing@budget.state.ny.us.
2. Reading Budget Director Paul Francis’ presentation (PDF) about the 2008-2009 Budget Outlook.

Written testimony submitted for these meetings is included below.

Buffalo

Buffalo Museum of Science
November 17, 2007

Testimony from Buffalo Hearing

Rochester

University of Rochester, Kornberg Medical Research Building
November 17, 2007

Testimony from the Rochester Hearing

Syracuse

Syracuse Common Council Chambers
November 27, 2007

Testimony from the Syracuse Hearing

Utica

SUNY IT, Kunsela Hall Auditorium
November 27, 2007

Testimony from the Utica Hearing

Brooklyn

Brooklyn Borough Hall, Ceremonial Courtroom
November 29, 2007

Testimony from the Brooklyn Hearing

Long Island

H. Lee Dennison County Office Building
November 30, 2007

Testimony from the Long Island Hearing

Additional Testimony

Additional Written Testimony Submitted to the Division of Budget