Rensselaer, NY, Oct 23, 2012 — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has tough words for local government officials who've been warning that the state's recent cap on property tax increases puts them in a financial squeeze that will restrict basic services.

Cuomo says with the state facing a multi-billion dollar shortfall, local governments are on their own. In a press conference after a cabinet meeting in Albany Monday, he said it's up to county and city government leaders to make the hard choices, and to stop complaining.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Oct 12, 2012 — New York's counties are making a push to get Governor Cuomo and state lawmakers to take their growing fiscal crises seriously. They say they need relief from some state mandates that they say are bringing some counties to the brink of bankruptcy.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Sep 07, 2012 — State Senator Patty Ritchie has an idea to help ease overcrowding and costs at county jails.

As WRVO's Catherine Loper reports, the issue pits New York State against local governments.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Feb 02, 2012 — Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the "Battle of Albany'' is on.

And in the first skirmish of what's expected to be a long fight, Cuomo is putting the pressure on teachers and their unions.

Speaking yesterday, he said that if negotiations between the unions, the state Education Department and school districts on tougher evaluations for teachers and principals fail, he'll impose his own Feb. 16. Under law, a governor may try to enact policies in budget bills.

The governor spoke at the annual meeting of the state Association of Counties, trying to drum up support for his proposed budget.

The county leaders were pressing for relief from state-mandated costs. Cuomo said he would meet them half way in providing mandate relief by helping to defray health care and future pension costs.

But, as Karen DeWitt reports, he told the county officials it's up to them to do the rest.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Jan 24, 2012 — County leaders around the North Country have been asking the state for mandate relief, especially since New York imposed a 2% property tax cap on local governments last year. Their biggest beef is paying for Medicaid. It accounts for the largest percentage of many county budgets, and many county leaders don't think those costs should be their responsibility.

The governor's budget proposal offers some assistance with local Medicaid costs. The administration has been fanning out around the state, trying to sell the plan he released last week. And Cuomo has gotten some support from north country state legislators. But county leaders aren't as pleased.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Oct 07, 2011 — On Thursday, Governor Andrew Cuomo rebuffed a push by counties and some state lawmakers to have the state choose the local cost of Medicaid. The health insurance program for the poor costs New York about $53-billion dollars a year. Counties pay roughly 15-percent of that. Cuomo says each level of government needs to pay its share.  Go to full article

Oct 05, 2011 — Until this week, St. Lawrence County seemed to be leading the charge to over-ride the state's new 2-percent property tax cap, imposed on local governments. Now it looks like the County is trying to stay within the tax cap limit.

Counties around the North Country are busily preparing their 2012 budgets. And each is having to do its own political maneuvering, and decide whether it will cut services, or over-ride the tax cap.

Julie Grant reports.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Jan 10, 2011 — Gov. Andrew Cuomo is wasting no time. From a wage freeze for public employees, to mandate relief and a property tax cap, he's moved on many of key campaign themes in just his first week in office.

He's also got a new/old legislature to work with. A Republican majority in the state Senate, but a familiar and powerful face at the head of the Assembly: Speaker Sheldon Silver. Susan Arbetter, host of WCNY's capitol Pressroom, is one of the Albany-based journalists who's watching all this closely. Martha Foley talked with her about the changing dynamic.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Nov 09, 2010 — Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo says New York won't be buying its way out of a projected $9 billion dollar deficit next year.

In his first speech since election night, Cuomo told a gathering of New York lawmakers in Puerto Rico they'll have to "get smart" and find other ways to plug the gap.

He campaigned on promises of no personal or corporate tax increases, and he says he's sticking to that promise. Cuomo also wants to cap property taxes. But those taxes are what counties and local governments rely on to fund their budgets, and pay for state-mandated services. Many experts say the tax cap would just be the first step in a long and painful process that would require deep cuts in government spending.  Go to full article

Feb 02, 2009 — The New York Association of Counties is calling on Governor Paterson to drop plans to cap property tax payments on state land in the Adirondacks. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article