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VETO MESSAGE - No. 187
 
TO THE ASSEMBLY:
 
I am returning herewith, without my approval, the following bill:
 
Assembly Bill Number 8047, entitled:
 
    "AN ACT to amend chapter 524 of the laws of 1987, relating to estab-
      lishing the Greater Poughkeepsie library district, in the city and
      town of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, in relation to the election
      of trustees and the annual budget of such library"
 
    NOT APPROVED
 
  This bill would establish a procedure for the election of the trustees
of  the  Poughkeepsie Public Library District to be held on the third or
fourth Tuesday of October, and require the county board of elections  to
administer  the annual budget vote on the date of and on the same ballot
as the general election, on behalf of the library district.
 
  While I appreciate the Legislature's desire to assist in  the  mainte-
nance  and  growth  of  a  public library, I am concerned that this bill
would establish yet another local election. At a time when  we  must  be
mindful of the plethora of levels of local government, this bill has the
potential  of increasing the burden on local government. This bill would
also likely result in lower voter turnout by moving the trustee election
away from the November general  election,  potentially  disenfranchising
local voters.
 
  I  will  endeavor  to  work  with  both the Senate and the Assembly to
address  and  alleviate  any  logistical  concerns   surrounding   these
elections, with the understanding that the annual trustee vote and budg-
et  vote of the Poughkeepsie Public Library District will continue to be
held as part of the general election administered and certified  by  the
Dutchess  County  Board of Elections, as I understand has been the prac-
tice since the mid-1990s.
 
  For these reasons, I disapprove this bill.
 
  The bill is disapproved.                    (signed) ANDREW M. CUOMO

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