Aubertine says he's opposed to license plate fee

State Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, said he’s always opposed a budget item that requires New Yorkers to pay $25 for new license plates starting in May.

The senator said in a statement that he worked to eliminate “many of the nickel and dime proposals,” but the plate renewal “remained as we passed on an on-time budget.”

Mr. Aubertine voted for the budget. The senator said he now has the “opportunity to eliminate this burden” during ongoing discussions on how to reduce the state’s estimated $3.2 billion deficit this year.

“My upstate colleagues and I believe we can work with the governor to find other ways to make up the revenue from this proposal before it goes into effect,” he said.

The state is expected to make $129 million from the fee.

The plate fee is also opposed in the Senate by Democrats David J. Valesky, Oneida; Neil D. Breslin, Albany and William T. Stachowski, Buffalo, as well as most of the Republican conference.