Governments here ‘being choked’

Editor, OBSERVER:

The ” ‘Outmigration’ is a bipartisan pickle” commentary (April 30) seems to suggest that local county governments are to blame for our state’s population decline.

The assumption that local county governments in rural areas are somehow to blame for their residents leaving the state is ridiculous. All of local government fiscal problems are the result of high taxes, out of control spending and burdensome state mandates all of which are born in Albany.

State Gov. Andrew Cuomo has driven this state into the ground with his policies. Don’t even suggest that rural western county governments are to blame for their own residents leaving the state!

Local governments are simply trying to survive while being choked to death by the state.

TIM STOCKMAN,

South Dayton