Senator Defrancisco and Colleagues Pass Local Mandate Relief Bills

Senator John A. DeFrancisco (R-I-C, Syracuse) supported several mandate relief bills yesterday that would give local governments more authority and flexibility and help save taxpayer dollars.

“As local communities continue to struggle with escalating costs, we must provide relief of state mandates to ease their burden,” said Senator DeFrancisco.

“The bills we passed yesterday will provide opportunities for localities to operate more efficiently, and it will save taxpayers’ money,” DeFrancisco said.

“As the Senate works to enact a property tax cap, it’s important that we also pass mandate relief measures to give municipalities the ability to allocate resources on community priorities, rather than to address state mandates that may not be needed,” Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said.

One measure (S.800), would authorize localities to deliver proposed local laws to members of their legislative bodies by email. Another bill (S.598), would allow tax collectors to send tax statements by email to homeowners who request that they receive email statements in lieu of paper statements. Both measures would reduce paper consumption and waste and provide cost savings through reduced printing and postage.

In addition, the Senate passed legislation (S.764), which would allow two or more contiguous towns to jointly purchase highway equipment. Under this bill, two or more towns and any villages contained partially or wholly within the towns, could jointly purchase and store highway equipment and save taxpayers’ dollars.

Last month, the Senate passed mandate relief legislation (S.2707) that would require any state mandated program imposed on municipalities or school districts, which created any net additional cost in excess, to be funded by the state.

The bills were sent to the Assembly.