AMEDORE, CAHILL BILL TO ALLOW SHARED SERVICES BETWEEN MARBLETOWN AND ROSENDALE SIGNED INTO LAW

Governor Cuomo has signed legislation, (S.1530/A.2297), sponsored by Senator George Amedore and Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, that would authorize the town of Marbletown to relocate their town hall and municipal offices into the former Rosendale Elementary School. 

“We should be doing everything we can to help our municipalities operate more efficiently and achieve cost-savings wherever they can, and this will help accomplish that for the towns of Marbletown and Rosendale. This new law benefits the school district, both municipalities, and most importantly, it benefits the taxpayers,” said Senator Amedore. “The cooperation between Marbletown and Rosendale is a great example of sharing services to reduce operating costs, and I hope more communities follow their lead.” 

“Facilitating cooperation between Marbletown and Rosendale will allow them to realize opportunities for efficiency in the delivery of their public services, while providing some property tax relief,” said Assemblyman Cahill (D-Kingston).  “Specifically, the sharing of town board and justice court facilities, as well as the office of the town assessor, will help the municipalities better carry out their daily operations and ensure that savings are passed on to taxpayers.  It is my hope that this initiative on the part of Marbletown and Rosendale serves as an example to other municipalities that local governments can and should cooperate to better serve the people of their communities.”

“We are very happy to welcome the Town of Marbletown into our new Town Hall,” said Jeanne L. Walsh, Supervisor of the Town of Rosendale.  “I would like to thank Assemblymember Cahill, Senator Amedore and Senator Bonacic for their hard work in passing this important measure.  This legislation will release funds necessary to finalize the municipal consolidation that will help both towns more efficiently deliver services to our communities while saving taxpayer dollars."

“The Town of Marbletown welcomes this important legislation to enable the residents of the Town to have a new Modern Town Hall without a four million price tag.   The employees, courts and residents will now be able to conduct business in a more efficient, handicap assessable, safe environment close to the former Town Hall. The Financial impact of this bill will actually REDUCE costs of government for both Towns with shared services at the same time expand services and opportunities. This bill will have an immediate effect of a TAX reduction for 2016! We would like to thank the hard work done by our elected representatives Senator Amedore and Assemblyman Cahill and the Governor to make this shared services concept a reality for our residents,” said Town of Marbletown Supervisor Michael Warren.

The 45,000 square foot former Rosendale Elementary School, which closed in 2012, is already an energy efficient space and handicapped accessible. Rosendale municipal offices have been conducting business in the school since 2013. The town of Marbletown expects to begin relocating their municipal offices immediately. 

Now that this legislation has been signed into law, the towns will be able to access a Department of State government efficiency grant in excess of $250,000 to help offset initial consolidation efforts. 


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