Aug 01, 2011 — St. Lawrence County officials say they're owed nearly $600,000 in unpaid property taxes, mostly from old gas stations. The county wants the money, or the property.

But there's a hitch. As Julie Grant reports, the county doesn't want to be on the hook for a major environmental clean-up.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Jun 06, 2011 — The prospect of a property tax cap could heighten tensions between workers and management at public schools in the state, as both sides gear up to fight over shrinking revenues and resources.

Karen Dewitt reports from Albany.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, May 31, 2011 — The push for a state mandated cap on local property taxes gained steam last week. A plan proposed by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver earned praise from Governor Cuomo and conditional approval from the state Senate.

Like Governor Cuomo, the Assembly Democrats want a 2% across the board cap on school and local government taxes. But they would exempt some costs, like some pension expenses that rise beyond local control. And Speaker Silver says he'd like the cap to sunset after a few years.

The conceptual agreement was praised by business groups, including the state's Business Council, who say it will "dramatically improve the business climate in the state." But the tentative agreement is criticized by those who will have to craft budgets within its limits.

The New York State Association of Counties is focusing on what was left out last week: mandate relief. Executive Director Stephen Acquario said it was "disingenuous" to reach a quick accord on limiting local property taxes without including mandate relief.

The organization has proposed its own fix--a state takeover of all local Medicaid expenses. NYSAC envisions the cost would be offset by state Medicaid reform, and by federal funding through the Health Care Reform Act. But between the 57 counties and New York City, that total amounts to $7.5 billion. Acquario told Martha Foley it's doable.  Go to full article

Utica, NY, May 26, 2011 — Gov. Andrew Cuomo came to Utica yesterday, a day after scoring a tentative triumph on one of his three big agenda items - a cap on local government and school tax increases.

Dave Bullard reports that the governor's speech was a mix of off the cuff and prepared remarks, as he kept up the pressure on lawmakers to agree to a tax cap in the next couple of weeks.  Go to full article

May 18, 2011 — Voters across New York headed to the polls yesterday to cast their ballots on some pretty tough school budget proposals.

After lawmakers cut over a billion dollars from statewide education aid, schools in every district were left figuring out where to cut and whether to ask voters for more money. And next year, schools may face a state-mandated cap on a vital revenue source: local property taxes.

Budgets were shot down yesterday for Schroon Lake, Ticonderoga, Northville and Lake George central schools. In St. Lawrence County, Edwards-Knox, Massena, and St. Lawrence Central budgets went down. In others, the margins were razor thin. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article

Canton, NY, May 09, 2011 — This school budgeting season has been among the toughest in memory.

Schools are swallowing hard to absorb Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 1.2 billion dollar cut in state education aid. Defending his cuts, he commands, "manage the school system. Reduce the waste, reduce the fraud, reduce the abuse.... 'Well, we don't have any.' ...I don't believe it."

Cuomo wants other efficiencies as well. He's looking for mergers and consolidations, and he's pushing small schools especially hard. We've reported that many of the North Country's little rural schools are struggling with state aid cuts that are disproportionate - bigger dollar for dollar than cuts in much larger, wealthier districts downstate.

Districts like Beaver River could end up with a single foreign language in the curriculum, or no advanced placement programs, or no music and art. As Superintendent Lueen Smithling told us, "Rural schools should not be taken advantage of and essentially he's creating a caste system of lower, substandard schools, and is that right?"

Even before this year's deep cuts, educators in St. Lawrence County saw alarming trends for small schools. The St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES office had already commissioned the Rural Schools Association of New York State to study alternatives to save schools and improve education. A draft report is due at the end of May, with public meetings planned.

Dennis Sweeney is leading the research team. They visited each district, analyzed data, and asked follow-up questions. He told Martha Foley this spring's budget climate just highlighted how dire the rural school picture is.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Apr 13, 2011 — Republicans in New York's Senate and Assembly are pushing Assembly Democrats to approve Gov. Andrew Cuomo's two percent across the board property tax cap for schools and local governments.

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb say they're circulating a petition to get average citizens to pressure Democrats in the Assembly to allow an up or down vote on proposed cap. Skelos says the Senate approved Cuomo's plan on January 31, now it's the Assembly's turn. Karen DeWitt has more from Albany.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Apr 12, 2011 — State lawmakers are working on a deal that could strengthen protections for people living in New York City's rent-controlled apartments while also capping the growth of property taxes upstate. Speaker Sheldon Silver says his house will act on a property tax cap, but it's not likely to happen before lawmakers take a two week break. Karen Dewitt reports.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Apr 07, 2011 — Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says he hasn't given up on extending the state's tax on millionaires, even though it was not a part of the recently approved state budget. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Mar 14, 2011 — A proposal to tax the rich to help balance the state's budget deficit and avoid cuts to schools is a popular idea among New Yorkers. But business groups say what's often overlooked in the debate is that the tax, in its current form, is paid by some of the state's smallest and most marginal businesses. Karen Dewitt Reports from Albany.  Go to full article