Albany, NY, Mar 11, 2011 — The state budget is due in just three weeks. Governor Andrew Cuomo has proposed deep cuts to New York public schools and districts here in the North Country are contemplating widespread teacher lay-offs. But a coalition of activists and educators say the state's highest income earners should pay more taxes to fund education programs and other state spending. Karen Dewitt reports from Albany.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Feb 21, 2011 — There's just six weeks until the New York State budget is due, and groups affected by Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposed $10 billion in cuts have begun stepping up their efforts to win public support for alternatives, like extending a tax on the rich. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Rochester, NY, Feb 16, 2011 — New York relies heavily on perks like tax breaks to induce businesses to come or grow here. According to a study by the Fiscal Policy Institute, the state handed out more than $5-billion in tax incentives last year alone. But as the Innovation Trail's Zack Seward reports, business groups say structural changes are needed if New York wants to boost economic development.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Feb 04, 2011 — A coalition of groups that traditionally oppose spending cuts spoke out against Governor Cuomo's budget, which seeks to slash $10 billion dollars from schools, health care and state services. Cuomo, who has begun touring the state to promote his spending plan, says he's undeterred.  Go to full article

Queensbury, NY, Jan 10, 2011 — It appears that state Sen. Betty Little will play a bigger role in this year's debates in Albany. On Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Little, a Republican, will join his newly created commission tasked with examining unfunded and underfunded mandates imposed by the state.

In a statement, Little said unfunded mandates approved by the state legislature "push the financial burden down to the lowest rung of the ladder."

She joins a group of industry, labor and government officials. The panel was established to identify solutions to ways to reduce local taxes by cutting the costs of state programs they're charged with providing.

Many local government leaders have said that cutting mandates, especially on health care programs, is their top priority in the next session.

A 2% limit on property tax increases was another of Gov. Cuomo's key campaign issues. That could hamstring local governments struggling to balance their own budgets. Local officials said they were happy to hear the property tax cap coupled with mandate reform, but that the devil would be in the details. Emma Jacobs has more for the Innovation Trail.  Go to full article

Elizabethtown, NY, Dec 30, 2010 — Essex County is still struggling to contain a projected property tax increase of 10 percent next year. Supervisors have considered and rejected selling the county nursing home, and an across the board cut in payments to outside agencies.

Essex County Chairman Randy Douglas has also called for the Civil Service Employees Union's 400 county employees to except a pay freeze.

After months of silence, the union local president Mike McGinn said this week there's no chance the union will agree to pay freezes or other concessions.  Go to full article

Northville, NY, Dec 08, 2010 — In many parts of the Adirondack Park, the biggest engine of the local economy isn't tourism or timber or mining. The main driver of the cash economy is the state of New York.

The state funds thousands of jobs in the Park at prisons, hospitals, schools, and mental health facilities.

But Albany also makes tens of millions of dollars in direct property tax payments every year to local governments and school districts, while asking for almost no services in return.

With New York's budget deficit expected to top ten billion dollars next year, community leaders are worried that those tax payments could be squeezed.

In part one of a two part series, Brian Mann looks at communities in the Park that have already seen the state cut off their property tax payments.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Nov 12, 2010 — North Country congressman Bill Owens says parts of the Bush-era tax cuts should be maintained.

In a new proposal made public this week, Owens argued that most Americans should actually see their taxes cut even further.

But he wants lawmakers to use the lame-duck session to eliminate tax-cuts that benefit wealthy people who earn more than half-a-million dollars a year.  Go to full article

Oswego, NY, Oct 20, 2010 — Candidates for New York's 48th State Senate District were at the WRVO radio studios yesterday morning to tape an hour-long conversation with a political science professor from Syracuse University's Maxwell School. Grant Reeher led a thorough exchange between the incumbent Democrat, Darrel Aubertine, and the Republican challenger, St. Lawrence County Clerk Patty Ritchie.

The conversation airs in its entirety tonight at 7 on WRVO. We'll also have full audio posted here at ncpr.org. Here's the closing four minutes of the hour. Reeher invited the candidates to ask each other a question.  Go to full article

Ilion, NY, Oct 14, 2010 — After seven years of no increases and one of the lowest property tax rates in the state, Essex County is looking at playing catch-up--fast. The county manager estimates a hike in the 30% to 50% range. Martha Foley has more.  Go to full article