Senator Morahan Announces Additional State Aid For Hudson Valley Towns And Villages To Reduce Property Taxes

State Senator Thomas P. Morahanannounced that the State Legislature had agreed toincrease Governor Pataki's proposedstate aid for towns, and villages. The joint Assembly-Senate Budget Conferenceapproved $ 396,659 for Rockland County to help ease the pressure of local property taxes. In addition, localities represented by Senator Morahanin Orange County will see a total increase in state aid of $23,681.

Senator Morahanco-chaired a joint Assembly-Senate Budget Conference Committee reviewing the Governor's Budget proposals.

Morahan also noted that the budget will include $25 million in shared services grants for which communities that share local services can apply to increase efficiency and reduce local government expenses for property taxpayers.

"This increase in aid over the Governor's initial budget allocations are critically important to help the towns, and villages of Rockland County meet their needs without resorting to higher property taxes. Property tax relief is a top priority in this budget and we’re going to accomplish that, not only through a direct property tax rebate program, but by increasing State assistance to local governments to ease the tremendous burden on hardworking property taxpayers," said Morahan.

The breakdown in the increase in aid for Rockland County is as follows, including each locality's total aid, followed by the increase in aid from 2005-06 to 2006-07 in parentheses:

Clarkstown-- $ 421,185 ($ 70,093); Haverstraw-- $107,972 ($ 17,969);

Orangetown-- $272,013 ($ 45,268) Ramapo-- $411,483 ($ 68,479);

Stonypoint-- $ 61,068 ($ 10,163)

Villages:

Airmont-- $ 23,978 ($ 3,991); Chestnut Ridge-- $ 23,792 ($ 3,960);

Grand View-on-Hudson-- $ 1,974 ($ 368); Haverstraw-- $ 77,961 ($ 12,974);

Hillburn-- $ 5,031 ($ 837); Kaser-- $ 14, 412 ($ 2,398); Montebello-- $ 7,558 ($ 1,258);

New Hempstead-- $ 15, 028 ($ 2,501); New Square-- $ 97,131 ($ 16,164);

Nyack-- $ 81,462 ($ 13,557); Piermont-- $ 17,792 ($ 2,961); Pomona-- $ 7,759 ($ 1, 291);

Sloatsburg-- $ 18, 757($ 3, 121); South Nyack-- $ 60,267($ 10,030);

Spring Valley-- $ 394,697 ($ 65,686); Suffern-- $ 90,512 ($ 15,063);

Upper Nyack-- $ 8, 987($ 1,495); Wesley Hills-- $ 16,996 ($ 2,828);

West Haverstraw-- $ 145,435($ 24, 203).

The breakdown in the increase in aid for Orange County localities within the Senator's district is as follows, and includes locality's total aid, followed by the increase in aid from 2005-06 to 2006-07 in parentheses:

Warwick-- $ 68,667 ($ 11,427); Tuxedo-- $ 14,577 ($ 2,426).

Florida-- $ 11,185 ($ 1,861); Greenwood Lake-- $ 13,035 ($ 2,169);

Tuxedo Park-- $ 5,858 ($ 975); Warwick-- $ 28,983 ($ 4,823).

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