Relief for Local Governments, Property Taxpayers Passed By The Senate

ALBANY – Greater control over costs to local governments and school districts has been an issue at the forefront of actions by the state Senate.

To help control local property tax increases, Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I- 57th District) and her colleagues passed legislation today that would require the state to pay for mandated programs or services, instead of placing the costs on local governments and property taxpayers.

Senator Young said, “For years, local governments have been appealing to the State for additional help from burdensome mandates. The Senate has worked diligently to address these issues, including assuming the growth of Medicaid, which will save counties across the state over $734 million. We have also enacted millions in savings for school districts through greater access to previously restricted reserve funds and targeted relief to various school districts facing penalties and exorbitant chargebacks.”

The Senate has consistently worked to address unfunded local burdens by adopting a wide range of mandate relief proposals, of which over 63 have become law. These measures include taking over certain local expenses and eliminating state requirements.

The legislation passed by the Senate would ease the tax burden by shifting the costs of programs or services mandated on municipalities or school districts that create an annual net additional cost in excess of $10,000, or an aggregate annual net additional cost in excess of $1 million onto the state.

“Our local county governments deserve better control over their own finances, and the Senate is committed to providing relief so that they can pass along that savings to residents and employers. By giving municipalities relief from new mandated costs, we provide them another avenue to achieve meaningful savings. I strongly urge my colleagues in the state Assembly to pass this measure to ensure that property taxpayers can see savings as soon as possible,” said Senator Young.

Last year, Senator Young sponsored legislation that passed the Senate to have the State pay for the additional costs for the increase in salary to local District Attorneys. The initiative, when incorporated into the total state budget, would save county governments and property taxpayers $1.6 million. It was incorporated into the Senate’s one-house budget resolution passed last week, and Senator Young is working to see it secured as part of this year’s enacted budget.