State Senator Hugh T. Farley (R, C, I – Schenectady) announced that he and his colleagues in the New York State Senate passed legislation to prohibit unfunded mandates from burdening local governments, schools, and their taxpayers. Bill S2295 would require certain state mandated programs imposed on municipalities and school districts to be funded by the state.

State mandated programs place local taxpayers and local officials in the position of paying for services they didn’t budget for. These programs allow the state, rather than local officials, to set priorities for the locality, forcing municipalities to levy more taxes on its residents in order to pay for these state mandated programs. Under the provisions of the bill, the education law is amended so that no unfunded mandate will be enacted if it creates a net additional cost on any school district or local government.

The bill will be sent to the Assembly.