Issues: Local Government

Senate Passes Historic Property Tax Cap Legislation

ALBANY,  06/24/11 - The New York State Senate today passed historic property tax relief legislation that enacts a cap on the growth of local property taxes.

“Property taxpayers in New York State are tapped out,” said Senator Seward.  “Enacting a property tax cap is a commonsense approach that will provide significant savings and help families and senior citizens afford to stay in their homes.

“Our small business owners, and in particular, our farmers, who are crumbling under the burden of out of control property taxes, will also receive much needed relief.  Now, instead of agonizing over skyrocketing tax bills, our business leaders can turn their attention to creating jobs and reviving our economy.”

June 24, 2011
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Senator Stewart-Cousins and Assemblyman Pretlow Pass Legislation to Save Money for Westchester Taxpayers

(Albany) – The New York State Legislature passed legislation, sponsored by Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D/I/WF- 35th District) and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D- 87th District), which allows Westchester County to finance their 2010 Early Retirement Incentive payments. This will provide immediate relief to the county budget and save taxpayer dollars in the long term.

June 24, 2011
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Senator Gallivan on the end of 2011 Senate Session

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Senator Patrick Gallivan comments on 2011 New York State Senate session accomplishments. 

June 23, 2011
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Senator Martins Sets Up Game Between Henry Viscardi School and Elmont Memorial High School

On Saturday, July 16, Senator Jack M. Martins will be sponsoring a 3-3 basketball tournament in Elmont. As part of the tournament, Senator Martins has arranged a game between the Elmont Memorial High School Spartans basketball team and the Henry Viscardi School Cougars basketball team.

Elmont Memorial High School and the Henry Viscardi School are both in the Seventh Senate District. Senator Martins has become fond of both schools. He had the idea to set up the game since he met the members of the Elmont team during the Spartans' run to the Nassau County championship. He has also been impressed with the work the Henry Viscardi School does with students with disabilities.

June 23, 2011
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SENATE PASSES BILL TO LOWER COUNTIES’ PUBLIC DEFENSE COSTS

    The New York State Senate gave final legislative passage to legislation, sponsored by Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (R-Merrick), to help counties save money in providing public defense services to individuals who cannot afford an attorney.     The legislation (S5474) would exempt legal aid societies from having to pay a fee to search DMV records in public defense cases. This exemption would provide savings to the counties who fund the services provided by legal aid societies.

June 22, 2011
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SENATE PASSES FUSCHILLO BILL TO LOWER COUNTIES’ PUBLIC DEFENSE COSTS

            Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (R-Merrick) today announced that the New York State Senate has passed legislation he sponsored to help counties save money in providing public defense services to individuals who cannot afford an attorney. 

June 21, 2011
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Senate Passes Legislation to Establish Fixed School Tax Rate for Seniors

The New York State Senate today passed legislation that would establish a fixed real property school tax rate for seniors who are eligible for the enhanced STAR exemption, providing much needed tax relief to hundreds of thousands of seniors throughout New York State.

“The goal of this legislative session was to bring tax relief to our residents. This bill will bring some relief to our seniors who have built our communities. It is important that we ensure that our seniors remain in our communities. This measure makes it a little easier during these difficult economic time. This will help to stabilize taxes for those 70 and older,” said Senator Jack M. Martins, who supported the bill.

June 21, 2011
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Complete Streets Passes Senate

The New York State Senate unanimously passed legislation that would encourage municipalities to consider new street design standards for all users.

Senator Martin Malavé Dilan (D-Brooklyn), Ranking Member of the Transportation Committee, and a sponsor of the legislation, has been a strong advocate of Complete Streets legislation since introducing it last year.

June 21, 2011
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SENATE-APPROVED BILL WOULD ALLOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ‘PIGGY-BACK’ ON PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS

    The New York State Senate today approved legislation (S.5525B), sponsored by Senator Betty Little (R-C-I, Queensbury), that would allow local governments to cooperatively purchase, or piggy-back, on contracts already approved for other government agencies, including those of other states or the federal government.     The same terms and conditions of a contract already awarded would apply and there is a provision in the legislation to ensure that competitive bidding standards consistent with state law must have been used.      “This is a cost savings measure,” said Senator Betty Little.  “It gives our local governments a lot more options when they have a need to contract for goods or services.” 

June 20, 2011
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Senator Martins Congratulates Garden City Park Fire Department

Senator Jack M. Martins congratlated the Garden City Park Fire Department on their 100th anniservary. The department held a parade and carnival to celebrate the occasion. Senator Martins was proud to celebrate the occasion by marching in the parade through the streets of the Garden City Park Fire District, ending at the Tully Park Aquatic Center.

"To achieve 100 years of serving the community is a tremendous achievement. I congratulate all those who have served over the years including the present members of the department for their service to the community," said Senator Martins.

 

 

June 20, 2011
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HISTORIC LAND BANK BILL PASSES STATE SENATE

Land Banks are a Long-Term Solution to Problem of Vacant Properties

Senator David Valesky (D-Oneida) announced the unanimous passage of legislation (S663A) he sponsored in the State Senate that would allow for the creation of land banks in New York State. 

June 20, 2011
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Senate OKs Legislation Allowing Towns to Set Speed Limits

            Legislation sponsored by Senator Betty Little that would allow towns throughout New York State to establish their own speed limits was approved by the Senate today.

June 20, 2011
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Senator Martins' School Bus Mandate Relief Act Passes Senate

In an effort to provide schools with mandate relief, Senator Jack M. Martins introduced a bill in the Senate that would allow boards of education to reduce the number of seats provided for student transportation if the seats aren’t being used by students. The measure was passed by the Senate on Friday and is expected to save school districts millions of dollars.

June 17, 2011
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RITCHIE BILL TO AID SEARCH, RESCUE TEAMS

Inspired By Oswego County Search and Rescue Team

State Senator Patty Ritchie says her bill to provide training and certification for specialized search and rescue teams, inspired by Oswego County’s Search and Rescue Team, will enhance emergency service capabilities across upstate New York.

“Every year emergency personnel across the state are called out to help search for people who are lost in wilderness areas as well as neighborhoods,” Senator Ritchie said. “It’s been established that the same skills and courses developed by our state’s forest rangers to search for people lost in wilderness areas can dramatically improve the success of searches anywhere else. This legislation will encourage emergency personnel to obtain the additional training that’s available that would help them be more effective when someone turns up missing.”

June 17, 2011
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State moves to dissolve obsolete Medina agencies

From the Batavia Daily News...

Senator George Maziarz, R-C, Newfane, announced that the State Senate Thursday gave final passage to legislation requested by the village of Medina that would dissolve its Urban Renewal Agency and Housing Authority.

''These two authorities, like scores of others in small communities around the state, have been defunct for decades,'' Maziarz said. ''By formally dissolving them, we are taking a small but tangible step to reduce the size of government.''

According to Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-I-C, Batavia, the bill's sponsor in the Assembly, the measure was approved unanimously in that chamber on Tuesday.

June 17, 2011
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State Senate Passes IDC Priority Bill To Allow Schools/ Local Gov'ts to Pool Resources, Cut Costs

The New York State Senate today passed priority legislation by the Independent Democratic Conference that will cut costs and lower burdens on property taxpayers by streamlining the process for schools and other local governments to jointly consolidate healthcare-related and administrative operations.

June 16, 2011
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SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION CO-SPONSORED BY SENATOR VALESKY TO ASSIST IN LOCATING MISSING VULNERABLE ADULTS

 ALBANY, N.Y.— Legislation co-sponsored by Senator David J. Valesky (D-Oneida) that will create a clearinghouse for information and alert system to find missing and vulnerable adults passed the State Senate today. “This is a significant piece of legislation, because it has the potential to save lives,” Senator Valesky, who serves as Chair of the Senate Aging Committee, said. “The faster families and law enforcement can act in disseminating information about missing vulnerable adults, the faster resources can be dispatched and loved ones can be located.”  The legislation (S.3293b) would build upon the previously established statewide Amber Alert system used by law enforcement to alert the public to missing children.

June 16, 2011
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Senator Martins' Message to the Graduates: Reason for Optimism

Wishing the Graduates Success and Hope

Like so many of you at this time of year, I recently had the pleasure of watching one of my own children graduate from middle school.  The auditorium was awash with the pure, unadulterated excitement of students, parents and even their teachers.  As I sat quietly wondering where the years had gone, I got to thinking about this phenomenon.  Exactly what were the ingredients of this energy?  Was it pride in accomplishment? Was it a sense of relief?  Or was it simply the prospect of summer vacation?  While I think all of these things played a role, the conversations throughout the room made it clear.  The reason was hope.

June 16, 2011
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