BUSTI – A piece of heavy machinery the town of Busti ordered more than a year ago is on hold due to a state regulation that seeks to electrify government machinery fleets.

“Every 12th or 13th vehicle ordered must now be electrical, or something like that,” said Tom Pilling, Busti public works supervisor. “So, we’re on hold.”

According to state Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, the Advanced Clean Truck regulation from the state Department of Environmental Conservation will require all truck dealers in New York state to buy electric trucks. The plan, first adopted in 2021, is set to take effect in 2025.

Borrello told The Post-Journal earlier this week that In addition to limiting the supply of trucks to buy in New York, it also forces transportation companies to leave the state because they can simply move their Transportation Department licenses to Pennsylvania for example, and not have to deal with the requirements.

Borrello and Republicans in the state Senate expanded on their opposition in a news release sent Thursday morning.

“New York state has gotten way ahead of itself with many of its Climate Act mandates and the Advanced Clean Truck regulations are a prime example,” Borrello said. “Although the requirements are slated to take effect in 2025, the technology and infrastructure are still new and extremely costly. Business owners and transportation companies in my district are extremely concerned about their ability to comply with this premature mandate. I am concerned that this may drive many of them across the state border to Pennsylvania. With every new burden we put on businesses, we are making New York State less competitive. The reasons for the state to hit ‘pause’ on the ACT implementation and other climate mandates keep piling up.”

Borrello and several fellow Republican senators sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul stating their concerns regarding the adoption and impending implementation of the Advanced Clean Truck while asking for consideration of legislation (S.9910) sponsored by Sen. Joe Griffo, R-Rome, that would delay the implementation of ACT regulations. Griffo’s bill also requests that a task force be formed to conduct a cost-benefit analysis and formulate a more responsible plan, in consultation with the industry, that will both reduce emissions and limit dramatic cost increases for businesses.

In other business, Pilling talked about how the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has changed some of the department’s flood maps regarding Busti, and how new developers may not be happy with the new designations.

“The maps are not fully available yet,” he said.

Robbins stated, “This should only affect the east end of the lake.”

The town is also looking at implementing four pickleball courts and moving a basketball court along with upgrades to the parks and recreation department equipment.

“The pickleball courts will cost around $112,000,” said Todd Hanson, town board member.

The Busti Town Board is likely to exceed the state’s 2% tax cap when it passes its 2025 budget. Board members discussed the need for a meeting in early November to discuss the issue. The tax cap law establishes a limit on the annual growth of property taxes levied by local governments and school districts to two percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.

“We must have a community discussion to talk about the tax cap,” said Robbins. “Let’s schedule the meeting for Nov. 4 at 7:15 p.m., here.”