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