Senator Fred Akshar met with representatives of local municipalities and residents to discuss the issues they’re facing and how his office can continue to better serve the community. (Screenshot by Zachary Meseck)

CHENANGO COUNTY – Senator Fred Akshar held a virtual town hall on Wednesday night, inviting constituents and representatives of local municipalities to ask questions and receive answers.

Some of the topics discussed at the meeting included the viability of mail-in votes, reduced funding for municipalities, and state government overspending.

According to Akshar, this was the 40th town hall meeting his office has held since he was elected, and he appreciates having time to speak directly to his constituents on the issues that are important to them.

“The bottom line is while our vote isn’t being represented in Albany, but we certainly haven’t lost our voice,” said Akshar. “For me, it's about fighting the good fight and not giving up regardless of how outnumbered we are.”

Akshar opened the town hall with an update on the state of Albany and the New York State deficit.

“It’s been billed that we’re only going to raise money on the wealthiest millionaires,” he said. “The New York City Democrats feel that the only way to balance this budget is to raise taxes, but what they fail to realize is that we have a spending problem.”

He added that the governor’s office just started a task force that is looking for ways to increase tax revenue, but refused six billion dollars in medicaid funding because the office didn’t won’t to lose control over a portion of how the money would be distributed.