Diane Valden is reporting for The Columbia Paper Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is rethinking his plans to cut the program that provides direct state funding to towns, villages and cities after receiving complaints from lawmakers statewide. In Columbia County, the Copake Town Board Feb. 14, unanimously approved a resolution calling on the governor and the state Legislature to continue Aid and Incentives to Municipalities payments in the state budget next year. Copake will lose more than $11,000 in AIM funds if the governor’s proposal is implemented. All 18 towns in Columbia County are in similar positions. Kinderhook would lose nearly $51,000; Claverack, $44,000; the town of Ghent would lose out on nearly $21,000; and, Stockport just under $20,000. In a letter to the Copake board, the New York Association of Towns Executive Director Gerry Geist estimated that if the cuts go through, 91 percent of towns will lose AIM funding. In a press release, Cuomo said, “The original proposal only impacted localities receiving a relatively small amount of money, but I have been contacted by mayors and local officials who say in these tough times it would still be a challenge for them. That is why we are revising the executive budget to use internet sales tax revenue to make these impacted localities whole.” Municipalities reliant on AIM funds will not know the fate of their 2019-20 award until the state budget is passed. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.