Jan 13, 2012 — More than fifty towns around New York inappropriately exceeded the state's property tax cap. That's according to the office of state comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Dec 16, 2011 — A study by the New York State School Boards Association finds three quarters of the state's school districts would have exceeded the new 2% property tax cap, had it been in effect for the current school year budget. The group predicts that the new tax cap and schools are "on a collision course." In Albany, Karen DeWitt has more.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Dec 16, 2011 — The Board of Regents proposal would give 73% of increased state aid to high-need districts. That could help North Country schools, which are among the poorest in the state.

As Martha Foley reports, Gov. Andrew Cuomo supports changes that would send more money to the neediest districts, but he wants to put students front and center as the conversation about aid to schools goes forward.  Go to full article

Dec 08, 2011 — North Country lawmakers are praising the outcome of the special session held yesterday in Albany.

Republican state Senator Betty Little from Queensbury said the income tax deal negotiated by Governor Cuomo would cut income taxes for the "vast majority of New Yorkers." Little predicted the tax plan would "encourage economic activity and job growth."

Eight Assembly Republicans voted against the tax overhaul. North Country Republicans in the Assembly approved it, with reservations.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Nov 10, 2011 — We reported Tuesday on Essex County's efforts to stay within Governor Andrew Cuomo's new 2% cap on property tax increases. Since the legislature approved the cap in June, it's been controversial. Some have welcomed it. But several communities, including Massena, have taken steps to override the cap.

Other communities and some lawmakers have taken the state to task for mandating local spending on programs like Medicaid, while limiting local revenue.

Wednesday in an appearance on the public radio program Capitol Pressroom with Susan Arbetter, Cuomo defended the cap--and talked about why he thinks it's an important--but not inescapable--guideline for local governments:  Go to full article

Elizabethtown, NY, Nov 07, 2011 — Budget season is heating up for town and county governments, and in Essex County that could mean some big changes.

A pair of popular county-run services - the Horace Nye Nursing Home and the fish hatchery - could be cut loose as lawmakers look to present a budget that meets the state's new 2 percent property tax cap.

Supervisors are also considering layoffs, after a key union that represents 450 workers declined to renegotiate the final year of its contract.  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

Elizabethtown, NY, Sep 28, 2011 — Work on Essex County's budget for next year was another victim of Tropical Storm Irene.

Board chairman Randy Douglas says that budget negotiations were "put on the wayside" while supervisors and county officials were kept busy overseeing repairs and clean-up efforts. But that will change soon. Martha Foley reports.  Go to full article

Sep 22, 2011 — School boards and leaders of some counties in New York are already saying they may need to override the newly enacted 2% property tax cap.

They say there might not be enough money to pay for flood damage from two tropical storms and mandated state programs if they don't override the new tax limit. As Karen DeWitt reports, there is a way to override the tax cap--but it's not simple:  Go to full article

Sep 13, 2011 — Flooding triggered by Tropical Storm Irene may force Essex County to borrow money to make it through the end of this year. Jay Supervisor Randy Douglas chairs the Essex County Board of Supervisors.

Douglas said he couldn't put a dollar figure on the total damages to county infrastructure. But he said individual projects relating to Irene will cost towns in the county hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Go to full article